Development of solid state detectors for particle physics experiments (J1-4129)

Upgrades of existing detectors built at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are foreseen in a next decade together with the upgrade of collider itself. They require the development of detectors that could efficiently detect particles even at significantly increased radiation levels compared to current detectors. The rate of particles passing through detectors will also increase due to increased luminosity. The proposed project supports the planned upgrade of the ATLAS detector with a new tracker and the results will be also important for the upgrade of CMS detector. Project will be carried out within the framework of RD50 collaboration, which provides support for these two experiments. Installation of a new layer of silicon detector called Inner B-layer Detector (IBL) is planned in ATLAS (phase 0) in 2013. This will improve the tracking of charged particles and compensate for the loss of efficiency of the current pixel detector. In the next phase (Phase 1), which is expected to be done around the year 2016 the whole pixel detector will be replaced. The long-term goal is to replace the entire semiconductor tracker of charged particles with the new (around 2020 – Phase 2). Semiconductor tracker will be expanded into the volume currently occupied by the gas detector, TRT (Transition Radiation Tracker). Gas detectors in this volume would become inefficient due to increased rates of particles and will be replaced with silicon microstrip detectors. Radiation and rate load will be the highest in the inner part closest to the interaction point. There are three options for the innermost (pixel) parts: planar, 3D silicon detectors and diamond detectors. Choice of sensors will depend on their efficiency to detect charged particles, the possibility of coupling to appropriate reading electronics, their mechanical and thermal properties and the price. The proposed project provides support to the options which are using silicon sensors in Phase 1 and 2. It will be focused on measuring and improving the efficiency of charged particles detection as well as on understanding the processes important for creation of signals.