R&D in instrumentation and associated techniques are a major drive for scientific and industrial advances. In LIBPhys, the R&D and innovation on the generic field of instrumentation plays an important role, being common to the different Groups and Thematic Strand (TS).
Clearly, most sensitive are the applications to Biomedical and Biophysics Engineering, the larger TS of LIBPhys. Nevertheless, the expertise of LIBPhys in instrumentation in the areas of cryogenics and of radiation detection and associated detector pulse acquisition and processing electronics is also an important asset, with significant R&D activity and scientific output.
This expertise is visible at international level, with involvement of unit members in major international collaborations and/or experiments and in bilateral collaborations with .internatioznally renowned partners. This TS cannot be considered independently of the other TSs, taking into account that members are involved in in different research targets, having several interactions and shared goals with the other TSs.
Radiation Detection Instrumentation
- The LIBPhys team expertise in radiation detectors has been requested by several international collaborations in the last two decades. We list below several examples along our contributions and future plans.
- XENON: Co-leading with WIS the Slow Control WG, participation in the data taking and analysis efforts and in the deploy of the future XENON 10t. We emphasize the great potential for WIMPS discovery.
- NEXT: Leading the R&D WG on Xe molecular additives in NEXT-DEMO TPC, 30 cm thick drift region and 1 to 10 bar range, participation in the data taking and analysis of NEXT-NEW runs and in the deploy of the future NEXT100 TPC.
- CREMA: Participation in the deploy, data taking and analysis campaign for the precise measurement of the hyperfine splitting in muH.
- CRESST: Coordination the upgrade and its deploy in the LNGS, participation in the data taking and analysis campaigns.
- RD51: R&D studies on 125-micron thick COBRA and MHSP made on Kapton etching technology, radioclean and outgassing free when compared to those made on PCB technology, and still discharge-robust.
- European Integrating Activity in Hadron Physics: Leading the studies of Zero-IBF and PACEM concepts, already proposed by LIBPhys, aiming to reduce the positive ion backflow produced in the electron avalanches of signal amplification and readout of ALICE TPCs.
- We will apply the new developed technique for radiation detection in gaseous media using nanoparticles dispersed in a standard counting gas, focusing its application to neutron detection using boron-content particles, and extend it to hard x-ray detection applications.
- We foresee the development of a new concept alternative to electron multiplier devices for gaseous photomultipliers (GPMs) with improved characteristics.
- It will be studied the application of micropattern gaseous detector based on the THCOBRA for fire detection. This project will be done in collaboration with the DRIM group of the I3N-Aveiro.
- Using ion beam analytical techniques (PIXE, PIGE, EBS), the team is involved in a seabed mining and analysis of recovered material project, englobing the construction of a prototype that allows a new type of seabed mining without negative environmental impacts, as opposed to the methods which are available today;
Cryogenic Instrumentation
The
Laboratory of Cryogenics (FCT-UNL) started in 2003 by building a 70 K cryocooler for ESO (CAMCAO project) developed from this date various cryogenic devices for thermal management at low temperature. Within the framework of the collaboration with ESA, and in collaboration with the Portuguese company Active Space Technologies, two ESA projects and one FCT were financed since 2013. This laboratory also hosted some development of didactical experiments in Cryogenics and in mechanics using a wireless acquisition board in collaboration with PLUX Company.
