Low gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) has emerged as a highly promising technology for addressing key challenges in radiation detection and imaging, particularly in high energy physics experiments and next generation light sources. An LGAD is a semiconductor radiation detector that provides internal signal amplification through a controlled avalanche effect. In this respect, it is similar to an avalanche photodiode (APD); however, LGADs are designed to operate with significantly lower internal gain, typically on the order of ~10. This gain is sufficient to improve the signal to noise ratio while minimizing undesirable effects such as increased electronic noise and crosstalk in finely segmented microstrip and pixel detectors.
SINTEF has been developing and fabricating LGADs for both high energy physics and photon science applications. The sensors developed for high energy physics are designed to improve time resolution by reducing the substrate thickness while maintaining sufficient signal amplitude. On the other hand, the sensors for photon science are designed to enable the detection of low energy photons through internal amplification of the signal to a level above the noise floor of the readout electronics. A part of these developments is being carried out within the Si-LighT research project, which is funded by the Research Council of Norway, with the University of Oslo (UiO) as a project partner. The master student will perform a thorough characterization of the LGAD sensors developed by SINTEF, evaluate their performance, and possibly provide feedback for improvement. The master student will be co-supervised by scientists at SINTEF.
Courses relevant from the bachelor's degree:
Recommended courses for theoretical curriculum in the master's programme: