Manufacturing of Large and Highly Transparent Aerogel Tiles with Refraction Indices up to 1.1 for Cherenkov Detectors

Aerogels with low refractive index and high light transmittance are highly desirable for Cherenkov detectors in high-energy particle physics. However, the quality, cost, and scale of the manufactured aerogels have been a challenge for this field. Over the past 10 years, Aspen Aerogels has gained considerable expertise fabricating highly hydrophobic transparent aerogels. On the proposed effort, Aspen will advance the state of the art by developing a cost-effective, reproducible process to fabricate large size aerogel tile with high optical quality. During Phase I program, Aspen fabricated highly transparent aerogels with a transmittance & gt;83% at 400 nm and a refractive index as high as 1.10. In addition, the preliminary test results by cosmic rays at Arizona State University were very promising. The outstanding optical properties of Aspens aerogel monoliths, which have been proven to be three times better than the incumbent material, are of special importance for on-going and future Cherenkov detector projects. During the Phase II program, Aspen will design and build a diffusive reflecting apparatus capable of accommodating tiles of up to 1 ft2. Aspen and ASU will build a prototype detector and have it tested at an accelerator facility. Success of the proposed program will result in a completed process capable of producing large transparent aerogel tiles at very competitive cost. Aspen Aerogels poised to become the first supplier, in US, of large aerogel tiles for high-energy physics community. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Transparent aerogels will find use in the Building and Construction market for applications including highly-insulated fenestrations such as windows and skylights, and translucent building panels,that would significantly lower energy consumption.