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Development of Novel Fas and Solid-State Detectors

Description:

Nuclear physics research has the need for devices to track charged particles, and neutral particles such as neutrons and photons. Items of interests are detectors with high energy resolution for low-energy applications, high precision tracking of different types of particles, and fast triggering capabilities. The subtopic announcements are grouped into solid-state devices and novel gas detectors. Grant applications are sought to develop novel gamma-ray detectors, including, 1) position-sensitive photon tracking devices for nuclear structure and astrophysics applications, as well as associated technology for these devices. High-resolution germanium or scintillator detectors capable of determining the position (to within a few millimeters utilizing pulse shape analysis) and energy of individual interactions of gamma-rays (with energies up to several MeV), hence allowing for the reconstruction of the energy and path of individual gamma-rays using tracking techniques, are of particular interest; 2) techniques for increasing the volume and-or area, or improving the performance of Ge detectors, or for substantial cost reduction of producing large-mass Ge detectors; and 3) alternative materials, with comparable resolution to germanium, but with higher efficiency and room- temperature operation. Grant applications are sought to develop advances in the general field of solid-state devices for tracking of charged particles and neutrons, such as silicon drift, strip, and pixel detectors, along with 3D silicon devices. Approaches of interest include: Manufacturing techniques, including interconnection technologies for high granularity, high resolution, light-weight, and radiation-hard solid state devices; Thicker (more than 1.5 mm) segmented silicon charged-particle and x-ray detectors and associated high density, high resolution electronics; Cost-effective production of large-area n-type and p-type silicon drift chambers; Novel, low-noise cooling devices for efficiently operating silicon drift chambers; Low mass active-pixel sensors with thickness ~50m and large area Si pixel and strip detectors with thickness <200 m. Segmented solid state devices for neutron detection, with integrated electronics; Grant applications are sought in the general field of micropattern gas detectors. This includes: New developments in micro-channel plates; micro-strip, Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs), Micromegas and other types of micro-pattern detectors; Commercial and cost effective production of GEM foils or thicker GEM structures; Micro-pattern structures, such as fine meshes used in Micromegas; High-resolution multidimensional readout such as 2D readout planes; Systems and components for large area imaging devices using Micromegas technology associated with the read-out of a high number of channels (typically ~10,000), which requires the development of printed circuit boards that have superior surface quality to minimize gain fluctuations and sparking. Grant applications are sought for the advancement of more conventional gas tracking detector systems, including drift chambers, pad chambers, time expansion chambers, and time projection chambers such as: Gas-filled tracking detectors such as straw tubes (focusing on automated assembly and wiring techniques), drift tube, proportional, drift, and streamer detectors; Improved gases or gas additives that resist aging, improved detector resolution, decreased flammability and larger, more uniform drift velocity; Application of CCD cameras for optical readout in Time-Projection Chambers; New developments for fast, compact TPCs. Gamma-ray detectors capable of making accurate measurements of high intensities (>1011 -s) with a precision of 1-2 %, as well as economical gamma-ray beam-profile monitors; Components of segmented bolometers with high-Z material (e.g., W, Ta, Pb) for gamma ray detection with segmentation, capable of handling 100 -1000 gamma rays per second; Finally, grant applications are sought to develop detector systems for rare isotope beams with focus on: Next-generation, high-spatial-resolution focal plane detectors for magnetic spectrometers and recoil separators; High-rate, position-sensitive particle tracking and timing detectors for heavy-ions. Of interest are detectors with single-particle detection capability at a rate of 107 particles per second, a timing resolution of better than 0.25 ns, spatial resolution of better than 10 mm (in one direction) and minimal thickness variations (< 0.1 0.5 mg-cm2) over an active area of typically 1 20 cm. In addition, a successful design would maintain performance during continuous operation (at 107 s-1 particle rate) over multiple weeks. Arrays of diamond detectors would be a possible approach
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