SBIR Phase I: Tandem-ABALONE Detector Module

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是多方面的。在这个项目中开发的新型光敏技术将使新一代的超灵敏实验在天体粒子物理学的广泛领域成为可能。这项技术在探测超高能量宇宙辐射、中微子、暗物质等方面具有优势。此外，我们的技术满足社会需求，包括医学成像和核安全方面的进步。在医疗应用方面，同样的核心技术可以生产具有成本效益的超灵敏全身封闭医疗扫描仪（正在申请专利），用于对无症状人群进行几乎无害（低剂量）的预防性癌症筛查（目前不存在这项服务）。在核安全应用方面，这项技术可以广泛和经济有效地探测非法裂变和放射性材料（目前也不存在这种可能性）。总的来说，这个项目可以创造一个高利润和多方面的高科技产业。拟议的项目将满足我们的主要客户/合作伙伴的需求，这是一个旨在以前所未有的高灵敏度探测南极地区宇宙中微子辐射的国际合作项目。这样的灵敏度将在10km^3的冰体积中实现，并配备2500米深的探测器链，只有像我们这样的探测器概念和具有成本效益的高科技生产方法才能达到这一目标。然而，实验现场的恶劣条件需要对我们发明的核心设计进行特定的修改。每一个探测器都需要装上一对对经过改造的光电传感器，探测器表面要接地，因此标准的高压连接必须与地电位交换。因此，光电二极管将从中间移动到外围，特殊设计的光管将把光带到它们那里。同时，我们将设计一个高压电源，它将集成在两个光电传感器之间的狭窄间距内。此外，该组件必须在-70℃下工作。因此，我们将生产改进的光传感器，设计和生产所有额外的组件和接口，在接近现实的条件下测试探测器，并与我们的客户/合作伙伴分享，以进一步评估和反馈。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is many-fold. The novel photosensor technology developed within this project will enable a new generation of ultrasensitive experiments in the broad field of astroparticle physics?designed and constructed on previously impossible scales This technology is advantageous as detectors of ultrahigh energy cosmic radiation, neutrinos, dark matter and more. In addition, our technology addresses societal needs, including advancements in medical imaging and nuclear security. In medical application, the same core technology can enable the production of cost-effective ultrasensitive whole-body-enclosing medical scanners (patent pending) for preventive, virtually harmless (low-dose) cancer screening of the symptom-free population (a currently non-existent service). For nuclear security application, this technology can enable widespread and cost-effective detection of illicit fissionable and radioactive materials (also a currently non-existent possibility). In general, this project can lead to the creation of a highly profitable and multi-faceted hi-tech industry.The proposed project will meet the needs of our lead customer/partner, an international collaboration aiming at the detection of cosmic neutrino radiation at the South Pole site with unprecedentedly high sensitivity. Such sensitivity will be achieved in a volume of 10km^3 of ice, instrumented with 2500 m deep chains of detectors, and only a detector concept and cost-effective hi-tech production method like ours can reach that goal. However, harsh conditions at the experimental site require specific modifications to the core design of our invention. Pairs of modified photosensors will need to be packed into each detector unit, which will be electrically grounded on its surface, so the standard high-voltage connection must be swapped with the ground-potential. Consequently, the photodiode will be moved from the middle to the periphery, and specially designed light pipes will bring the light to them. At the same time, we will design a high-voltage power supply that will be integrated within the narrow spacing between the two photosensors. Additionally, this assembly must operate at -70 oC. Therefore, we will produce modified photosensors, design and produce all the additional components and interfaces, test the detectors under near-realistic conditions, and share them with our customer/partner for further evaluation and feedback.