PHOTONLAB — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 28a

Description

To this day, the broad field of large-area photon detection has relied on a very expensive 80-year-old technology. Our novel Photosensor Technology has the capability of supplanting that old technology with a modern, cost-effective, and uniquely robust alternative, which provides sensitivity to visible and ultravolet light, exceptionally low intrinsic radioactivity, low noise, and provides high detection performance. Therefore, it can open new horizons in all application areas, including large experiments in fundamental science, and new types of scanners for both functional medical imaging and nuclear security. This technology can also address a wide spectrum of important societal needs, particularly by opening new markets, previously considered virtually unachievable due to the shortcomings and/or high cost of the current technologies. For instance, thin and lightweight detector panels can serve as modules for ultrasensitive whole-body-enclosing medical scanners that could provide ultra-low-dose cancer screening for a wider, even symptom-free population. The same invention enables custom-shaped detectors of illicit radioactive materials. In general, this project can lead to the creation of a highly profitable and multi-faceted hi-tech industry.Our research will focus on high purity of the materials used to make our photosensors, as well as all of the supporting structures. All components will be constructed, for the first time ever, out of ultrapure fused quartz. Quartz is not only one of the purest materials available, it also transmits ultraviolet light. That is particularly important for virtually all future experiments in this field, because most of the light that is emitted in these processes is concentrated precisely in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Our technology allows us to use fused quartz without any additional costs in the assembly process, which presents a great advantage over prior art. Our immediate potential customers include research groups and funding agencies involved in the construction of very large next-generation detectors. Potential customers are also in the areas of preventive medical diagnostics and nuclear security.