Detector R&D
Instrumentation R&D and facilities at SCIPP
At the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP), several groups conduct innovative research and development in advanced sensor technologies, sharing laboratory facilities and expertise. These groups explore a wide range of detector concepts for applications in high-energy physics (HEP), nuclear physics (NP), medical imaging, and beyond. The Ultra Fast Silicon Detector (UFSD) group leads multiple hardware projects focused on ultrafast timing and beam monitoring. Their work centers on the development of Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) for use in HEP, NP, and X-ray detection. Complementary efforts involve diamond detectors for diagnostics in XFELs, cyclotron multi-GHz particle beams, and nuclear fusion. Meanwhile, the thin film detector group investigates the feasibility of charged particle detection using thin-film devices, and the radiological instrumentation group focuses on selenium (Se) detectors for X-ray detection and CdZnTe detectors for PET imaging.
SCIPP’s laboratories are well equipped for sensor R&D, featuring advanced testing facilities, simulation clusters, and extensive measurement setups. Capabilities include electrical characterization via probe stations, dynamic characterization with beta sources, laser TCT systems, and X-rays, as well as test-beam experience at SLAC, SSRL, and APS. The lab also develops custom analog electronics for fast sensors, performs SPICE and HFSS simulations, and contributes to sensor modeling through Weightfield2 and TCAD Sentaurus simulations. One notable development is the widely adopted single-channel fast-sensor test board originally designed at SCIPP.
UFSD Group Research Activities
The UFSD group’s work includes LGAD development for several major collaborations. Current projects include sensor R&D for the ATLAS HGTD timing layer, the development of an active target for the PIONEER experiment, and timing sensors and integrated circuits for the ePIC detector. The group also pursues exploratory (“blue sky”) R&D on novel sensor concepts. In parallel, SCIPP leads a five-institution Advanced Accelerator Diagnostics Collaboration, funded through BES/ARDAP, aimed at enabling diagnostic systems for X-FEL and proton beam facilities. Another recently funded effort is the development of an ultra-radiation hardened detection system for plasma monitoring in nuclear fusion power plants.
The SCIPP team has a long history of detector innovation. They developed fast (nanosecond-scale) readout systems for HERA at DESY, and large-scale silicon detectors for the GLAST space mission. They contributed significantly to the understanding of radiation damage in p-type silicon detectors for the LHC, and were the first group to propose and demonstrate the use of LGADs for precision timing in LHC experiments. SCIPP has been instrumental in driving LGAD development to meet the radiation-hardness needs of ATLAS timing detectors, conducting numerous test-beam and irradiation campaigns. The group holds several patents, including for AC-LGADs (US 9613993), DJ-LGADs (US 11923471 B2), and a method for improved sidewall passivation (US 8841170). They lead multi-institutional productions of these patented devices and demonstrated the capability of LGADs for X-ray detection. SCIPP has also developed several fast timing chip prototypes, including the AS-ROC, HP_SoC, and FAST chips, collaborating closely with industry through SBIR funding. Their diagnostic work includes a 50 MHz CBXFEL quadrant system with micron-level precision.
Thin Film and Radiological Instrumentation Groups
The thin film group develops detectors based on layered materials for charged particle detection, while the radiological instrumentation group conducts extensive R&D on selenium-based detectors and related alloys for improved transport and long-wavelength response. Their work, supported by DOE and NIH funding, covers applications from dynamic PET imaging to quantum-enhanced X-ray and optical imaging. A dedicated in-house fabrication facility enables the deposition of multi-layer Se detectors using thermal evaporation and e-beam systems. Detector characterization spans UV–VIS–NIR to X-ray response, with measurements of dark and photocurrents, lag, ghosting, and quantum efficiency under high voltage (up to 3 kV). An advanced X-ray test bench with CT capability allows rapid performance evaluation and demonstration of applications.
Some of the research projects and experiments in Particle Experiment within SCIPP include:
PIONEER
ePIC
SCIPP members affiliated with Particle Experiment within SCIPP include:
Shiva Abbaszadeh
- Title
- Associate Professor
- Department
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Phone
- 831-459-4929
- Campus Email
- Website
- Office Location
- Engineering Building 2, 243A
Anthony Allen Affolder
- Title
- Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor
- Department
- Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP)
- Phone
- 831-459-2996
- Campus Email
- Office Location
- Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 327
Earl Russell Tang Almazan
- Title
- Mr.
- Department
- Physics Department
- Campus Email
Vitaliy Fadeyev
- Title
- Research Physicist and Adjunct Professor
- Department
- Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP)
- Phone
- 831-459-2126
- Campus Email
- Website
- Office Location
- Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 313
Michael Hance
- Title
- Associate Professor
- Department
- Physics Department
- Phone
- 831-502-7321
- Campus Email
- Website
- Office Location
- Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 317 Nat Sci II
Hartmut F Sadrozinski
- Title
- Adjunct Professor
- Department
- Physics Department
- Phone
- 831-459-4842
- Campus Email
- Office Location
- Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 315 ISB
- Office Hours
- Thursday all day you
Bruce A Schumm
- Title
- Long Family Professor in Experimental Physics
- Department
- Physics Department
- Phone
- 831-459-3034
- Campus Email
- Website
- Office Location
- Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 329 Nat Sci II
Abraham Seiden
- Title
- Research Professor
- Department
- Physics Department
- Phone
- 831-459-2923
- Campus Email
- Website
- Office Location
- Nat Sci 2 Main Building, 333
