Development of Active Absorbers Using a Matrix of Tungsten Powder and Epoxy for Particle Detection in Nuclear Physics

Detection of high energy electrons and photons plays an important role in many areas of nuclear physics. The detectors used for this require high density absorber materials that can absorb and measure the energy of these high energy particles with good efficiency and energy resolution. Tungsten Heavy Powder propose to develop a series of new, high density active absorbers consisting of a matrix of tungsten powder and epoxy with embedded plastic scintillating fibers that are extremely compact and provide good stopping power and high detection efficiency for measuring high energy electromagnetic particles. The matrix of tungsten powder and epoxy will have a density in the range ~ 7-11 g/cm3, which will result in a small Moliere radius and short radiation length for use in calorimetry applications in nuclear and high energy physics. This will enable keeping the overall size of the detector small, which will reduce the cost of not only the electromagnetic calorimeter, but other detectors in the experiment as well. These absorbers can be designed to have a minimal number of cracks and inactive regions that will provide good uniformity and large area coverage. Tungsten Heavy Powder has extensive experience and manufacturing capabilities for a wide variety of tungsten products. Tungsten Heavy Powder propose to develop a cost effective, industrialized process for mass producing absorber blocks consisting of tungsten powder, epoxy and scintillating fibers with a range of densities that can be produced with various shapes, sizes and physical properties that will enable them to be used for calorimetry in particle physics as well as for other applications. Tungsten Heavy Powder also intend to work with several established nuclear physics groups to ensure that the resulting detectors will meet the needs of future experiments.