Radiation Damage Studies in Silicon

The research intends to investigate the fundamental behaviour of radiation interaction with solid materials and identify where candidate materials can be optimised to improve detector efficiency and other key optimisation parameters using software, laboratory verification and statistical analysis. The aims are to:
- Undertake a comprehensive literature review to identify the current advances and limitations of radiation detectors. This may incorporate conceptualising standard model limitations and identifying research advances to exploit the quantum nature of candidate materials to realise opportunities in quantum technology.
- Undertake fundamental simulations using specialised modelling software to build predictive models used at CERN and other research establishments.
- Validate key findings and compare with published data.
- Identify where detector optimisation can be undertaken, supported by simulation results and laboratory findings.
- Design build and new models and algorithms to validate experimental data and compare with published data with tried and tested methodologies.
- Identify further areas of research and innovation in the radiation detection field
- Build links with industry, academia, and radiation detection community

Progress Report - August 2022.
Results are presented on the most probable energy loss of high energy charged particles of a pion, proton, and positron at 2.0 GeV/c momentum traversing a 'thin Silicon' slab at 30, 50, 100, and 300 thicknesses. Such energy loss studies allow us to study the signals generated when particles interact with matter.
The focus of these studies was to test and verify ionising particle-matter interactions and energy losses in thin silicon. This was done by comparing the theoretical work of Landau with the predictions of the FLUKA particle transport code. FLUKA is used extensively at CERN for particle interaction studies. Analysis of the results are presented in both graphical and tabular form and compared with published literature, with key findings highlighted at the end of each section.
The FLUKA modelled results show good correlation with the Landau model paper and the most probable energy loss calculations, Landau approximation formula and the Gaussian smearing plots. The signal charge analysis using the FLUKA data also shows good agreement with detector hardware parameters from the ATLAS semi-conductor tracker.
The expectation is that year 2 will focus on neutron interactions and building convertor layers for target material thicknesses. Recoil will be studied, and stronger theoretical understanding of charged particle modelling will be undertaken. Further competence may be extended into semi-conductor physics, quantum mechanical theory and organic materials.