DetectorSync |
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DetectorSync
WDSR
Working
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The
DetectorSync
organization
has
been
formed
to
coordinate
a
national
initiative
in
research
and
development
for
advanced
detectors
for
synchrotron
radiation
science.
It is clearly evident that the ability of modern synchrotrons to produce intense photon beams is mismatched to the ability of modern detectors to measure the fluxes of electrons, ions and photons produced in experimental measurements. This problem has become worse still with the advent of the ever more brilliant beams of 3rd generation synchrotrons and the upgrade of 2nd generation machines. Although agencies have funded a large growth in synchrotron capacity in the US through the construction of new machines, funding for detector research and development to keep up with the capabilities of the new machines has been mostly absent. Now is a good time to coordinate a national roadmap for the development of detectors for synchrotron radiation applications. In several areas, new technology is becoming available that should revolutionize the way we can collect data. These include a wide range of technology based on the integration of microelectronics into detector elements to enable ultra-fast counting as well as on-chip data processing , to low temperature solid state detectors with spectacular energy resolution. These new types of detector will revolutionize the way we do experiments. They will also optimize the way that we use our existing synchrotrons. In many cases, many orders of magnitude in signal is currently wasted, due to the limited capabilities of present day detectors. An excellent argument can be made based on economic grounds, that a small investment in synchrotron detector research will reap a very large increase in effective utilization and capacity of the existing facilities. This initiative started with a workshop in Washington, DC - the Workshop on Detectors for Synchrotron Research, held on October 30-31, 2000 - and is continuing with meetings at the various US synchrotron facilities:
Coordination of the effort is by the DetectorSync Organizing Committee (list at left) . The output of our work so far has been a White Paper that came out of the Washington, DC, meeting and several Working Group Reports (listed at left) . During the next year we will continue to poll the use community for input into this effort, refine the technical goals of such an initiative, and provide evidence to funding agencies regarding the need and cost effectiveness of the proposal program. The proposed program has yet to be refined, but would consist of a focused call for proposals in a relatively small number of defined high priority areas. The projects would essentially be contracts to produce a certain class of detector, rather than being of a research and development nature. They would be funded typically over 3 years to ensure continuity, and with sufficient funding to ensure that a substantial team would be able to work on each project. Historically detector development has taken often a decade or more, and clearly to address the urgent need we have, we have to have a greater commitment of resources to speed up this process. The project teams may be consortia of university, national laboratory and industry groups. A key element of each project would be to ensure that technology transfer to the general community and to industry would be fully supported. We will continue to solicit and welcome all comments from the US synchrotron radiation community. Please send your comments and suggestions to Al Thompson or any member of the DetectorSync Organizing Committee. |
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ALADDIN / ALS / APS / CAMD / CHESS / NSLS / SSRL