Silicon-based particle and radiation detectors are key components of many high-energy physics and astrophysics experiments. Novel silicon CCD detectors that have fast readout, low noise, and wide spectral sensitivity play a central role in Vera C. Rubin Observatory/LSST 3.2 gigapixel camera, which will be used to explore the physics of dark energy, among many other topics. Hybrid pixel detectors suitable for use as charged particle tracking detectors are being developed for uses in high-radiation and low-temperature environments, such as the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. Silicon photomultiplier radiation detectors have applications in fast and thermal neutron imaging, making use of the pixelated sensitive area within the silicon device. Beside sensor and readout development, the art of systems integration is a prime training focus.
University Mentors:
- Maxwell Chertok (UC Davis)
- Jason Nielsen (UC Santa Cruz)
- Steven Ritz (UC Santa Cruz)
- Bruce Schumm (UC Santa Cruz)
- Anthony Tyson (UC Davis)
- Mani Tripathi (UC Davis)
Laboratory Mentors:
- Erik Brubaker (SNL)
- Christopher Kenney (SLAC)
- Tim Nelson (SLAC)
- Melinda Sweany (SNL)
- Dong Su (SLAC)
- Caterina Vernieri (SLAC)
Participating students will gain hands-on experience with silicon device physics in these labs. Students will develop expertise in electrical testing, high-speed data acquisition, systems integration, and detector calibration. They will have a chance to develop instrumentation in the lab and to operate silicon detectors in the experimental environment.
