QSHS Fast Oscilloscope for Time-domain Diagnostics (QFOT)

QSHS项目有资金建造和操作探测器，用于探测波动状暗物质，如轴子，如果它存在，可能构成星系中90%的物质和宇宙全部能量的26%！这些探测器本质上是非常低噪声的无线电接收器，耦合到谐振电磁腔，有时被强磁场穿过（例如，如果我们正在寻找轴子）。低噪声是通过使用世界上最好的放大器来实现的，这些放大器正在我们的团队和其他地方开发，以及其他电子元件，以确保放大器输出到达分析数据的室温计算机，而不会被电磁噪声失真或模糊。通过在非常低的物理温度（绝对零度以上百分之一摄氏度）下进行实验，可以将噪音降到最低。这是使用稀释制冷机实现的。我们的设备中出现的信号是高频无线电，在这种情况下很难实际测量信号并将其显示在图表上。相反，通常所做的是测量无线电的输出，但这只是信号与时间关系图所呈现的全貌的一部分。为了从我们的设备中得到这个图形，我们可以使用示波器足够快地获取足够长的时间来观察我们的设备对它通常会产生的微小信号的响应，称为单量子。具有所需电子器件以观察这些快速微小信号的示波器是昂贵的物品。我们要求这样一个示波器，但我们知道价格很高（太高了，我们不能把它包括在我们的原始投标STFC的QSHS项目）。因此，我们已经设法让LeCroy，这种望远镜的主要供应商，给我们一个非常好的交易，一个合适的单位。它将被折扣到标价的34%，不包括增值税，价格仅略低于6万英镑。这是一个非常物有所值的项目，为所资助的QSHS项目增加了一个重要的诊断能力。此外，所要求的示波器实际上超过了我们的规格，具有14 GHz的带宽，超过了我们的研究所需的带宽。QSHS的一个主要部分是测试与我们合作的小组在QSHS设备中开发的极低噪声电子器件。我们打算让团队带着全套设备和辅助测试设备出现在谢菲尔德的设施上，以进行评估，并可能用于寻找暗物质。全套本地诊断设备，包括快速示波器，将非常有助于将现场购买的设备与我们的设施集成，以便我们可以最大限度地从已安装的设备中受益。总之，所要求的设备将最大限度地提高科学产出从现有的科学技术信托基金资助的设施在一个非常好的价值价格从拟议的供应商。因此，这是对本申请所涉设备基金的一流使用。

The QSHS project has funding to build and operate detectors for wave-like dark matter, such as axions, that, if it exists, might make up 90% of the matter in galaxies and 26% of the full energy content of the Universe! These detectors are essentially very low noise radio receivers coupled to resonant electromagnetic cavities, sometimes threaded by intense magnetic fields (if we're looking for axions, for example). Low noise is achieved by using the worlds best amplifiers, under development in our group amongst other places, and other electronics elements, to ensure the amplifier output reaches the room temperature computers that analyse the data without being distorted or obscured by electromagnetic noise. Noise is minimised by operating the experiment at a very low physical temperature, one hundredth of a degree centigrade above absolute zero. This is achieved using a dilution refrigerator.The signal that appears in our apparatus is in the high frequency radio, a regime where it is hard to actually measure the signal and display it on a graph. Instead, what is usually done is to measure the output of the radio, but this is only part of the full picture presented by a graph of signal versus time. To get this graph out of our apparatus, we could use an oscilloscope sufficiently fast to acquire the data for enough time to observe the response of our apparatus to the tiny signals that it will typically produce, called single quanta. Oscilloscopes having the required electronics to observe these fast tiny signals are expensive items. We are requesting such an oscilloscope, but we are aware that the price tag is high (too high for us to include it in our original bid to STFC for the QSHS project). So, we have managed to get LeCroy, a primary vendor for such oscilloscopes, to give us a very good deal on a suitable unit. It would be discounted to 34% of the list price, and cost just shy of £60k excluding VAT. This represents exceptional value for money, adding a crucial diagnostic capability to the funded QSHS project. Furthermore, the requested oscilloscope actually exceeds our specification, having 14GHz of bandwidth, more than what we need for our research.A major part of QSHS is the testing of very low noise electronics developed by groups collaborating with us in the QSHS apparatus. We intend that groups will show up at the Sheffield facility with a full suite of devices and auxiliary test equipment to bolt to our apparatus for evaluation and possible use in searches for dark matter. A full suite of local diagnostic equipment, including a fast oscilloscope, will be very useful in integrating equipment that is bought on site with our facility so that we can benefit maximally from the equipment that has been installed. In summary, the requested equipment will maximise the science output from an existing STFC-funded facility at a very good value price from the proposed vendor. As such this is a first-class use of the equipment fund to which this request is submitted.