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American researchers have developed ultra-thin sensors capable of accurately identifying high-energy particles. This innovation could transform particle physics and other scientific fields!
Researchers of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) have made a breakthrough in detecting particles high energy by adapting sensors nanowires photon detection for the task of high-speed, high-precision particle detection.
The feat was accomplished in Fermilab's Test Beam Facility, one of the largest particle physics facilities in the world. This breakthrough could have major implications for particle accelerators, systems that are fundamental to understanding the origin and components of the universe.
Particle accelerators are essential for studying subatomic particles created in high-energy collisions.
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These particles move at speeds close to that of light and must be detected with high precision so that scientists can analyze their behavior and properties.
However, the detectors used specifically in these systems have limitations in sensitivity and accuracy, which can hamper advanced research.
To overcome these challenges, ANL researchers have proposed using unique superconducting nanowire photon detectors (SNSPDS). These extremely sensitive devices are capable of detecting even a single photo.
The technology has already been used in areas such as optical sensing and quantum computing, but had never been applied to particle accelerators. The research team decided to test the options for this adaptation.
What are SNSPDs sensors?
SNSPDs are highly sensitive optical sensors based on superconducting nanowires. Their operation is simple but effective: when a photon is absorbed by the nanowire, there is a small increase in the electrical charge of the material, which is detected accurately.
This detection occurs at extremely low temperatures, allowing superconductors to function.
This technology is highly efficient, allowing the detection of events that would be imperceptible to casual detectors. With the proposed adaptation by the ANL researchers, SNSPDs could be used to detect high-energy particles, such as protons, with much greater precision.
Tests at Fermilab
The ANL team tested the SNSPDs in experiments conducted at Fermilab, where they supplied 120 GeV protons, regularly supplied particles that are commonly accelerated and used in experiments at particle accelerators.
The researchers varied the thickness of the nanowires, using wires with different widths, to test the detection efficiency under different conditions.
The results were promising. The 400-nanometer-wide wires showed high efficiency in detecting high-energy protons. To put this in perspective, the width of a human hair is about 10.000 nanometers, which makes the isolation of these sensors even more impressive.
The best configuration was achieved with 250 nanometer wires, which proved to be ideal for this application.
Potential for the future
The work at Fermilab marks an important step forward, but it is just the beginning. According to Whitney Armstrong, one of the ANL physicists involved in the research, this was the first use of the technology, and the demonstration was key to future high-impact applications.
This is because SNSPDs can be used in different scenarios within particle physics, including in more advanced particle accelerators, such as those that use superconductors to accelerate particles to even greater speeds.
Additionally, SNSPDs could also be used in new facilities such as the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) currently being built at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States.
In this accelerator, electrons will be used to bombard protons and atomic nuclei, and detecting particles with high precision will be crucial to the success of the research.
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