Carbon Thermostructure for Silicon-Based Particle Detectors

40981 November 19, 1996 Energy Science Laboratories, Inc. The structures that support silicon tracking detectors for planned high energy physics experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider must meet challenging requirements including precision dimensions, high rigidity, strict temperature control under heat load, and still be fabricated in ultralight fashion out of low-Z materials. New structural concepts and materials are required. This project will investigate novel actively-cooled carbon sandwich structural materials that incorporate newly developed small-gauge thin-walled carbon tubing, lightweight carbon fiber cores, and thermally conductive carbon-carbon facings. Phase I involves materials fabrication, testing, and thermostructure design supported with FEA analysis. The feasibility of fabricating all critical elements in a configuration suited for the Atlas Pixel Detector will be demonstrated, and an engineering prototype of a barrel detector end plate sector will be fabricated. Phase II would further develop the materials and structural concepts to design and produce larger elements such as full-scale staves of a barrel detector thermostructure. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Low-mass thermostructure with thermal expansion matching that of silicon should improve the performance of particle detectors used in accelerators for high energy physics research. This development could also lead to (1) heat spreaders for electronics packaging (2) heat exchangers for energy conversion and (3) lightweight combustion devices for turbine engines and rockets.