Lifetime measurements of novel ultra-fast PMTs for kaon tagging at the NA62 experiment at CERN

粒子物理学研究物质的基本成分及其相互作用。未来粒子物理学精密前沿实验的一个核心要求是能够测量光子时间，精度达到10皮秒。粒子物理实验是使用高强度粒子束进行的。此外，这些实验中使用的光电传感器应该具有较长的寿命，以便能够在高粒子率环境中长期工作。该项目的重点是表征一种新型的光电倍增管原型，作为寿命的函数，直到非常高的寿命值。测量的成功结果将使这些光传感器能够部署在依靠超精密计时的下一代高光度粒子物理实验中，标志着粒子物理中的光子探测技术向前迈进了一步。除了切伦科夫和飞行时间粒子识别探测器在粒子物理中的直接使用(从欧洲核子研究中心的NA62实验开始，英国小组在其中发挥了重要作用)，拟议中的研究可能会为核医学的快速成像开辟未知的途径。为该项目采购的最先进的实验室设备将供共享使用，用于伯明翰粒子物理小组和其他英国小组开展的多个由STFC支持的粒子物理项目。

Particle physics studies the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions. A central requirement for future experiments at the precision frontier of particle physics, which are carried out using high-intensity particle beams, is the capability of measuring photon times to a 10 picosecond precision. Moreover the photosensors used on these experiments should have large lifetimes to enable long-term operation in the high particle rate environments.The project is focused on characterisation of a novel photomultiplier prototype as a function of lifetime, up to the very high values of the lifetime. The successful outcome of the measurements would enable deployment of these photosensors in the next generation high-luminosity particle physics experiments relying on ultra-precise timing, representing a step forward in photon detection technology in particle physics. In addition to immediate use for Cherenkov and time-of-flight particle identification detectors in particle physics (starting from the NA62 experiment at CERN, in which the UK group plays a major role), the proposed research may open unexplored avenues for fast imaging in nuclear medicine.The state-of-the-art laboratory equipment procured for the project will be available for shared use for the benefit of multiple STFC-supported particle physics projects undertaken by the Birmingham particle physics group and other UK groups.