Detector Systems (DL)
We exploit emerging technologies and semiconductor materials, in collaboration with academia and the industrial supply chain, to empower the discovery of new physical phenomena.
Our primary objectives are to:
- Research, develop, and serially produce extremely light-mass detector modules to track the trajectories of electrically charged particles in nuclear physics experiments.
- Improve hard X-ray spectroscopy instrumentation by using a system-level approach to develop high-spec cryogenic detectors that exploit the physical properties of HPGe sensors.
- Exploit advanced computational techniques to process electrical signals in real-time and to model physical processes.
- We work to the ISO9001:2015 quality management standard and are certified by the British Standards Institution.
Our facilities include:
- Two cleanrooms for semiconductor and cryostat assembly.
- Radiologically-controlled lab for extended exposure tests with radioactively sealed sources.
- Cryostats, coolers and pumping stations.
- Light mechanical manufacturing and metrology.
We also house a user facility specialised in the irradiation of electronics components with X-rays, complemented by our specialised expertise in dosimetry techniques for ionising radiation in thin-sheet materials.
Find out more
XH Cryogenic Detector System
The XH cryogenic detector system provides a unique combination of charge-integrating front-end electronics coupled to one high-purity germanium (HPGe) micro-strip sensor (1024 strips,50um pitch).
The XH system is currently deployed at the High Power Laser Facility (HPLF), which is part of beamline ID24 at the Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble (FR). This facility combines a high-power laser with the hard X-ray beams of a 4th generation synchrotron to perform dynamic compression experiments. Extreme conditions of pressure and temperature are created in matter. These transient physical states are short-lived and are used to study the structure and properties of substances in a variety of conditions. These investigations address scientific questions in solid-state physics, materials science and energy science. The system is commercially available via Quantum Detectors Ltd.
X-Ray Irradiation Facility
The X-Ray Irradiation Facility, located in the Tower Building at Daresbury Lab, enables users to study the effects of ionising radiation on electronic devices. The substantial size of the radiologically shielded chamber (1m x 1m x 2m), combined with the possibility of positioning the X-ray beam in the vertical or horizontal direction, offers a wide range of versatile set-up configurations.
The facility is available to users, benefitting from a Tungsten X-ray tube delivering X-rays up to 60 keV of energy.
Enquiries
For more information, please contact Marcello Borri
