Staff makes breakthrough in high-energy particle detection

Particle detectors play an important position in our understanding of the elemental constructing blocks of the universe. They permit scientists to check the habits and properties of the particles produced in high-energy collisions. Such particles are boosted to close the pace of sunshine in giant accelerators after which smashed into targets or different particles the place they’re then analyzed with detectors. Conventional detectors, nevertheless, lack the wanted sensitivity and precision for sure varieties of analysis.

Researchers on the U.S. Division of Vitality’s (DOE) Argonne Nationwide Laboratory have made a major breakthrough within the subject of high-energy particle detection in latest experiments performed on the Take a look at Beam Facility at DOE’s Fermi Nationwide Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).

They’ve discovered a brand new use for the superconducting nanowire photon detectors (SNSPDs) already employed for detecting photons, the elemental particles of sunshine. These extremely delicate and exact detectors work by absorbing particular person photons. The absorption generates small electrical modifications within the superconducting nanowires at very low temperatures, permitting for the detection and measurement of photons. Specialised units in a position to detect particular person photons are essential for quantum cryptography (the science of retaining info secret and safe), superior optical sensing (precision measurement utilizing mild) and quantum computing.

The work is printed within the journal Nuclear Devices and Strategies in Physics Analysis Part A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Related Gear.

On this examine, the analysis staff found that these photon sensors may probably additionally operate as extremely correct particle detectors, particularly for high-energy protons used as projectiles in particle accelerators. Discovered within the atomic nucleus of each component, the proton is a particle with a constructive electrical cost.

The staff’s breakthrough opens up thrilling alternatives within the subject of nuclear and particle physics.

“This was a first-of-its-kind use of the expertise,” mentioned Argonne physicist Whitney Armstrong. “This step was vital to exhibit that the expertise works the way in which we would like it to as a result of it’s usually geared towards photons. It was a key demonstration for future high-impact functions.”

The staff made SNSPDs with completely different wire sizes and examined them with a beam of 120 GeV protons at Fermilab, which was the closest facility outfitted to hold out this experiment. These high-energy protons are essential as a result of they permit researchers to simulate and examine the situations below which SNSPDs would possibly function in high-energy physics experiments, offering worthwhile insights into their capabilities and limitations.

The researchers discovered that wire widths smaller than 400 nanometers—the width of a human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers—demonstrated the excessive detection effectivity wanted for high-energy proton sensing. Additional, the examine additionally revealed an optimum wire measurement of roughly 250 nanometers for this software.

Along with their sensitivity and precision, SNSPDs additionally function nicely below excessive magnetic fields, making them appropriate to be used within the superconducting magnets utilized in accelerators to spice up particle velocity. The power to detect high-energy protons with SNSPDs has by no means been reported earlier than, and this breakthrough widens the scope of particle detection functions.

“This was a profitable expertise switch between quantum sciences, for photon detection, into experimental nuclear physics,” mentioned Argonne physicist Tomas Polakovic. “We took the photon-sensing system and made slight modifications to make it work higher in magnetic fields and for particles. And behold, we noticed the particles precisely as we anticipated.”

This work additionally demonstrates the feasibility of the expertise to be used within the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a cutting-edge particle accelerator facility being constructed at DOE’s Brookhaven Nationwide Laboratory. The EIC will collide electrons with protons and atomic nuclei (ions) to get a greater take a look at the inner construction of these particles, together with the quarks and gluons that make up the protons and neutrons of nuclei.

The EIC requires delicate and exact detectors, and SNSPDs might be worthwhile instruments for capturing and analyzing the ensuing particles produced in collisions inside the EIC.

“The proton power vary that we examined at Fermilab is correct in the midst of the span of the ion’s power vary that we are going to detect at EIC, so these checks had been well-suited,” mentioned Sangbaek Lee, a physics postdoctoral appointee at Argonne.

The analysis staff made use of the Reactive Ion Etching device on the Heart for Nanoscale Supplies, a DOE Workplace of Science consumer facility at Argonne. Different contributors to this work embody Alan Dibos, Timothy Draher, Nathaniel Pastika, Zein-Eddine Meziani and Valentine Novosad.