Lancaster EPP Capital bid 2016

Particle physics experiments require substantial technical resources to do their research. We are requesting three items. The first concerns the fabrication of detectors that can measure the position of charged particles very precisely. To do this, the sensitive materials need to be divided into increasingly small areas, and then connected to other electronics to read out if they have been hit or not. Thsi requires a very precise form of 'solderer' called a wire bonder. The one we are requesting will allow us to make very precise detectors that can be used for particle physics, but also astronomy, medical applications, earth observations etc etc.
The second request is for computers and storage to allow the results from experiments to be analyzed, particularly interactively in a way that allows the human to assess the data by eye. The novel approach is to 'virtualize' the computers so different operating systems can be used by different people at the same time, without any real loss of performance. The data will be able to be read much faster.
The last item is for a computer controlled lathe. This can be programmed to produce large items quickly, accurately and reproducibly. While 3D printers are very fashionable, they cannot yet produce many of the mechanical items required for particle physics experiments and other activities. This will allow Lancaster to help build the next generation of particle physics experiments.

These underpinning investments all have potential for impact, as they underpin the research work of the group. As such, the case made in for the consolidated grant 9attached as a supporting document) applies equally to these requests. These include evident However, there are specific areas of impact. The wire bonder will enable work that already shows near term impact in the medical field, as evidenced by a recent Newton award. It also has potential impact in terms of material investigations, an activity that forms part of the remit of our new Material Science Institute and to which we contribute. There are also other potential impacts in the areas of Earth observation (and indirectly on to Clime Change), high speed imaging, transmission electron microscopy and mas spectroscopy. The Tier 3 computing can underpin a wide variety of activities with potential impact, including those using rf and accelerator technologies developed within our Cockcroft activities, and in terms of plasma-materials interactions studied in the same context. The CNC lathe is of very general use and will support the impact of all out experimental activities.