Novel Solid State Photodetector to Enable Future Scintillating Fiber Detection Experiments

78904S Many high energy physics experiments need sensitive photodetectors for scintillating fiber readout. Calorimeters and time-of-flight detectors currently use photomultipliers or avalanche photodiodes, but these photodetectors do not meet the requirements of future nuclear physics experiments due to insufficient energy, time, and spatial resolution; low quantum efficiency; and high sensitivity to magnetic fields (PMTs). There is a strong need for a solid state photodetector with better performance parameters. This project will utilize the recently invented mechanism of internal discrete amplification to build photodetectors that can meet the requirements of the future scintillating fiber detection experiments. The proposed solid state photodetector will have performance parameters comparable to PMTs with the advantages of low cost; better energy, time and spatial resolution; insensitivity to magnetic fields, and the ability to create arrays. Phase I will establish the foundation for building an advanced photodetector for scintillating fiber detection in high energy physics experiments. A photodetector prototype will be designed and optimized. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the expected wide use in high energy and nuclear physics experiments, the technology could be utilized in several commercial areas: biological sensors and analyzers based on sensitive photo-detection; chemical sensors based on sensing very weak light signals; and drug discovery, where low light photo-detection is becoming an important tool.