BACK

CARBON THERMOSTRUCTURE

FOR SILICON-BASED PARTICLE DETECTORS

Technology Description

To accurately track the numerous particles scattered in high-energy beam collider experiments, detectors surround the collision zone. The cooled framework that carries the detectors must be dimensionally stable yet be as light and transparent as possible. Detectors planned for the Large Hadron Collider require such high performance at such low weight that new structures concepts and materials are required.

This project is developing a lightweight sandwich structure made entirely of carbon. Compared to metals and ceramics, carbon transmits radiation well and has thermal expansion better matched to silicon. Dimensional stability and efficient cooling are achieved by integrating thin-walled carbon tubing with a graphite fiber core structure rigidized with pyrolytic carbon.

Potential Benefits

Development Status

ESLI performed a Phase 1 SBIR contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop new materials and components for high energy particle detectors.  Phase 1 demonstrated the fabrication of critical design elements such as curved carbon tubing, rigid sandwich structures, and thermally conductive cores. Under Phase 2 work, ESLI is currently developing the materials, processing, and designs leading to the fabrication of a prototype cooled structure for a full-scale disk detector. Stave components for barrel-type detectors will also be demonstrated.

DOE Phase 1&2 SBIR