Development of the TORCH Time-of-Flight Detector

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Economic impact: The collaboration of TORCH with Photek UK to develop Micro Channel Plate Photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMTs) to our specific specification will result in the manufacture of new type of photon detectors in the commercial sector. These tubes will have the smallest granularity currently on the market: 64 x 64 pixels over an area of 2 x 2 inch2. They will have good tolerance (>5 Ccm-2) to high photon exposure using atomic-layer deposition techniques, and excellent timing resolutions below 30 ps. We will work with Photek to develop a commercially cheap and robust MCP-PMT that can be easily deployed in applications requiring characteristics of speed and high spatial resolution for research areas beyond particle physics and also the commercial sector. As well as benefitting particle physics projects that need single-photon detection, the photodetectors have applications in fields such as positron emission tomography (PET), bringing benefit for the National Health Service. Space and cosmic-shower detection will benefit from MCP-PMTs which detect low levels of light with good spatial accuracy over visible wavelengths.
We will develop optical systems for the TORCH readout system, working closely with companies like Nikon, Japan, to produce cheap optical components (the quartz radiator plate and focusing block). We will also encourage UK companies to become engaged in this programme.

Dissemination of the science and technology: For dissemination of our scientific results, we will contribute to technology conferences (TIPP, RICH, ICHEP, Frontiers in Instrumentation etc) which bring together academia and industry. We will publish in scientific journals such as Nuclear Instruments and Methods and Journal of Instrumentation.

Public Engagement/Outreach: We are fully committed to public outreach and dissemination and we will continue to enthuse the general public in our achievements, and in the goals and aspirations of STFC science. We have made several contributions on local radio stations and World Service promoting our science. We also disseminate our science directly via seminars, masterclasses, café scientifiques and non-university societies. We will continue to participate in events such as the Royal Society summer exhibition, for which our most recent "Antimatter matters" exhibit was extremely successful.

Societal Impact: We have an excellent track record in training generations of graduate students, now employed in diverse industrial occupations, commerce or academia. A future TORCH detector will provide an ideal training ground in photon technology, optics, fast electronics and scientific computing for students, engineering and technical staff.
Finally, a TORCH detector could facilitate the discovery of new unexpected phenomena, for example in flavour physics, that would represent a huge step forward in our understanding of nature. Society in general would hugely benefit from such a discovery, and a new generation of young people would be enthused to study physics.