Abstract
The title of the project is: "Development of innovative scintillation detectors for future particle colliders and medical imaging". This project aims at developing technological solutions to be adopted for calorimeters operating at future HEP experiments. The goal of this project is to study scintillator materials that will be able to cope with the harsh environment in which calorimeters will have to operate in the future at particle colliders. Strong radiation tolerance, high granularity, capability to operate at extreme rates, and precise spatial and timing resolutions, well beyond the limits of current detectors, will be mandatory for the success of future experiments. We plan to identify and characterise inorganic scintillating crystals, like GAGG, PbWO and BGSO, with the necessary resistance to radiation, and provide high light yield with short scintillation times. Accurate simulation of the experimental conditions and crystal properties will serve to identify the most promising materials. Then, thorough characterisation will follow, also building small prototypes of homogeneous and sampling calorimeters to be tested on various particle beam lines. Moreover, starting from existing large-area picosecond photodetectors (LAPPDs), the project aims to design and develop devices specifically optimised for picosecond timing measurements within a calorimeter detector. Finally, building on top of the gained experience and developed technology, the project will investigate the innovative use of selected scintillating materials and detection techniques, along with the use of LAPPDs as photodetectors, for improving the time-of-flight (TOF) measurements in PET devices for medical imaging. 1. Development and characterisation of scintillating materials. 1.1: Optimisation of inorganic crystal compositions (GAGG, BGSO, PbWO) in collaboration with industrial manufactures, for HEP and TOP-PET applications. 1.2 Characterisation studies of crystal samples (GAGG, BGSO, PbWO). 2: Electronics and picosecond timing photodetectors. 2.1 Design and commissioning of LAPPDs models specifically optimised for timing measurements in HEP experiments and TOF-PET scanners. 2.2 Characterisation in the laboratory of developed LAPPDs and other PMTs necessary to the project, including lifetime studies of MCP wafers . 3: Calorimetry for high-luminosity and high-energy colliders. 3.1: Irradiation studies of all the relevant components (crystal samples, LAPPD, PMTs). 3.2: Design, construction and commissioning of small SPACAL GAGG prototypes (with and without integrated LAPPD) and dual-readout prototypes of BGSO and PbWO homogeneous calorimeters. 3.3: Characterisation of all prototypes in beam tests. 4: Medical imaging 4.1: Optimisation of BGSO and GAGG geometry for TOF-PET scanners. 4.2: Study of the application of LAPPD detectors to TOF-PET scanners and comparison to other PMTs. 4.3: Realisation and characterisation of small prototypes of TOF-PET scanners.
Results achieved
: Over the past few decades, research in particle physics has been one of the main drivers of new technology development, with implications that have affected numerous sectors of society, from electronics to computer science to medicine. This project was launched specifically with the goal of developing a new generation of particle detectors capable of meeting the challenges posed by future high-energy physics experiments, while simultaneously transferring the technologies developed to applications of interest to healthcare, particularly in medical imaging diagnostics. The project was made possible through a collaboration between the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, and the University of Milan-Bicocca, bringing together complementary expertise in detector design, the development of innovative materials, ultrafast electronics, numerical simulation, and the experimental characterization of advanced devices. Project Objectives In the coming years, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will enter its High Luminosity phase (HL-LHC), during which a much greater number of proton collisions will be produced than at present. This development will enable increasingly precise measurements and expand the search for physical phenomena beyond the Standard Model, but it will also require entirely new detectors capable of operating under extremely demanding conditions. At the same time, many of the technologies required by high-energy physics can find applications in other fields. Among these, one of the most promising is Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a diagnostic technique that benefits greatly from improved temporal resolution, allowing for more accurate images and reducing the dose of radiopharmaceuticals required for clinical examinations. Activities Carried Out The project took an integrated approach to all the main aspects necessary for the development of future calorimeters. An initial line of research was dedicated to the study of new scintillator materials—both crystalline and plastic—characterized by high luminosity, rapid light emission, and radiation resistance. Through irradiation campaigns and precise laboratory measurements, materials were identified that are capable of maintaining high performance even under the conditions expected for future experiments. A significant portion of the project was devoted to the development of calorimeter prototypes based on Spaghetti Calorimeter (SpaCal) technology, which were subsequently tested with electron beams at the experimental facilities at CERN and DESY in Hamburg. At the same time, a sophisticated Monte Carlo simulation framework was developed that allows for highly accurate modeling of light production and transport within the detectors, significantly speeding up simulation times compared to traditional methods. This software has been integrated into the simulation tools of CERN’s LHCb experiment and will be used during future data-taking campaigns. Finally, the technologies developed were applied to the construction of prototypes for Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) systems, studying new configurations of scintillators, readout electronics, and reconstruction algorithms dedicated to medical imaging. Key Results Achieved The project produced significant results in numerous areas. Scintillating materials with characteristics compatible with use in future high-energy physics detectors were identified, and their resistance to the high radiation doses expected during HL-LHC operation was experimentally verified. The selected photodetectors have been shown to maintain high performance even after intense irradiation campaigns, confirming their suitability for next-generation experiments. In particular, the MCP and LAPPD detectors have shown extremely promising performance for applications requiring ultra-high-precision time measurements. The calorimeter prototypes developed during the project achieved temporal resolutions ranging from approximately 15 to 30 picoseconds, while maintaining excellent energy resolution. These results represent the state of the art in the field and constitute an important step toward the realization of the future electromagnetic calorimeter for the LHCb Upgrade II experiment. Significant results were also achieved in the biomedical field. The TOF-PET prototypes developed as part of the project demonstrated significant improvements in temporal resolution and in determining the interaction depth of photons within the detectors—key factors for improving the quality of diagnostic images. These results pave the way for the development of next-generation PET scanners, characterized by greater sensitivity, improved spatial and temporal resolution, and the potential to reduce the dose of radiopharmaceuticals administered to patients. Scientific and Technological Impact The project’s activities have contributed to the development of technologies destined to play a key role in future international particle physics experiments, such as the LHCb Upgrade II and future ultra-high-energy colliders. At the same time, the project serves as a concrete example of technology transfer, demonstrating how innovations born out of fundamental research can find direct application in medical diagnostics, contributing to the development of increasingly effective tools for public health. The research results have been presented at numerous national and international conferences, have led to scientific publications, conference proceedings, and master’s theses, and have also contributed to the training of young researchers. All publications are made available in accordance with Open Access principles, promoting the widest possible dissemination of scientific results and the sharing of knowledge. Electromagnetic calorimeters—essential instruments for measuring the energy of electrons and photons produced in collisions—must be capable of withstanding high doses of radiation, distinguishing events occurring at intervals of a few billionths of a second, and ensuring a temporal precision on the order of a few tens of picoseconds. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to simultaneously develop new scintillator materials, faster photodetection systems, high-performance data acquisition electronics, and sophisticated simulation tools.Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Fabio Ferrari
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi"
Coordinator:
INFN-Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare(Italy)
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 18.288,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
28/09/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
