Longevity studies of micro-patterned gaseous detectors used in high-energy physics experiments

• Grant number: 24/19988-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Nuclear Physics
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Fiorini da Silva
• Grantee: Willian Wallace Ribeiro Alves da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/04867-2 - High energy physics and instrumentation with the LHC-CERN, AP.ESP

Abstract

The micro-patterned gaseous detectors are a new generation of radiation detectors that are widely used in particle and high-energy nuclear physics experiments. Their adoption in time projection chambers makes it possible to determine the trajectories of charged particles in a three-dimensional space, with the advantage over the predecessor technology of a continuous measurement in time and superior event rate recording capacity. Although studies show that this new technology is more resistant to radiation, there are still effects related to the degradation of its materials. This work aims to characterize the effects of material degradation in controlled situations in an attempt to better understand the process, with a view to increasing longevity. This study is necessary in order to recalibrate current experiments using this technology, but also to make future experiments feasible, as pointed out in the latest report from the European Council for Future Accelerators.