UV sensor technology for environmental and terrain monitoring

现代粒子物理学在测量自然界最基本的组成部分的性质方面取得了惊人的进展，这取决于高度复杂的探测器，许多物理学家致力于改进探测器技术。几年前，沃里克基本粒子物理小组意识到，某种类型的粒子物理探测器也可以用来探测紫外线（UV）。此外，通过与沃里克表面、界面和薄膜小组的合作，我们已经证明这些探测器可以测量不同波长的紫外线（不同的"颜色"--尽管紫外线对人眼是不可见的）。这是通过改变探测器有源部分的材料及其表面来实现的。更好的是，这些探测器可以以相当低的成本制造，并且与竞争技术相比非常坚固耐用。紫外线检测对于工业、环境传感、国防和安全以及其他领域都很重要，我们已经为我们的新技术申请了专利。无需昂贵的光学元件就能检测几种选定的紫外线波长的能力是一个很大的进步;然而，除非我们证明这种能力可以解决现实世界的挑战，否则我们的技术将仍然是“寻找问题的解决方案”。在这个项目中，我们将展示我们的传感器在两个特定领域的能力，即（1）汽车应用的地形传感和（2）水污染监测。在这些领域中，我们都找到了非学术合作伙伴，他们为技术提供了强有力的指导-我们应该关注什么波长，需要什么灵敏度，等等。在后续基金项目中，我们将专门针对这些问题构建传感器。通过展示我们的传感器解决行业主导应用的能力，我们将释放其商业潜力。

The amazing progress of modern particle physics in measuring the properties of the the most fundamental building blocks of Nature depends on highly sophisticated detectors, and many physicists work on improving detector technologies. A few years ago, the Warwick Elementary Particle Physics Group realised that a certain type of particle physics detector could also be used to detect ultra-violet (UV) light. Furthermore, by working with Warwick Surface, Interface and Thin Film Group we have shown that these detectors can measure UV light of different, chosen wavelengths (different "colours" - even though UV is invisible to the human eye). This is achieved by changing the materials and their surfaces in the active part of the detector. Even better, these detectors can be made at quite low cost and are very tough and robust compared to competing technologies. UV detection is important for industry, environmental sensing, defence and security, and other sectors, and we have filed patents on our new technology. The ability to detect several selected UV wavelengths without expensive optical components is a big step forward; however, unless we show that this ability can address real-world challenges, our technology will remain "a solution looking for a problem". In this project we will show our sensors' capability in two specific fields, namely (1) terrain sensing for automotive applications and (2) water contamination monitoring. In each of these fields we have found non-academic partners who have provided a strong steer for the technology - what wavelengths should we focus on, what sensitivities are needed, and so on. During the Follow-on-Fund project we will build sensors specifically tailored to these problems. By demonstrating the capability of our sensors to address industry-led applications we will unlock their commercial potential.