SBIR Phase I: Tandem-ABALONE Detector Module

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是多方面的。在该项目中开发的新型光传感器技术将在天体粒子物理学的广泛领域实现新一代超灵敏实验-在以前不可能的规模上设计和建造该技术作为超高能宇宙辐射、中微子、暗物质等的探测器具有优势。此外，我们的技术满足了社会需求，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成本效益高、超灵敏的包围式医疗扫描仪(正在申请专利)，用于对无症状人群进行预防性的、几乎无害的(低剂量)癌症筛查(这是一项目前尚不存在的服务)。对于核安全应用，这项技术能够广泛和具有成本效益地检测非法裂变材料和放射性材料(也是目前不存在的可能性)。总的来说，这个项目可以创造一个高利润和多层面的高科技产业。建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点宇宙中微子辐射的国际合作项目。这种灵敏度将在10千米^3的冰层中实现，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成本效益高的高科技生产方法才能达到这一目标。然而，试验场的恶劣条件要求对我们发明的核心设计进行特定的修改。需要在每个探测器单元中装入一对改装的光电传感器，探测器单元将在其表面电气接地，因此标准的高压连接必须与地电位互换。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身上。同时，我们将设计一种高压电源，将其集成在两个光电传感器之间的狭窄间隔内。此外，该组件必须在-70 oC下运行。因此，我们将生产改进的光电传感器，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/合作伙伴分享它们，以进行进一步的评估和反馈。

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.