To reinforce the potential and capability for the development of state-of-the-art silicon detector systems for charged particles detection.

Researchers from the NPP laboratories participate in local and collaborative projects in which development, building and testing of unique non-standard silicon based detector systems for charge particle detection is crucial. Modern silicon sensors possess excellent charged particle tracking capabilities, with minimal scattering and energy loss, and as a result are at the heart of numerous nuclear and particle experiments. Their usage is planned to increase even more in the near future. In order to strengthen DEP capabilities in this area, we will:

• Renew the existing silicon detector pool and procure novel silicon detectors.
• Upgrade and enlarge the pool of electronics units and equipment for silicon detector readout and front-end electronics.
• Exchange knowledge, know-how and experience, and organize a workshop on silicon detector systems development and testing with collaborators from prominent European institutions.
• Hire an experienced researcher in silicon sensors to transfer know-how to the local staff and to aid in all levels of this objective.

To reinforce the potential and capability for the development of state-of-the-art diamond detectors for charged particles detection.

Diamond detectors are, like silicon detectors addressed above in Objective 1, crucial charged particle tracking tools for many modern and planned future experiments, in particular due to their recent improvements in terms of efficiency, energy resolution, extreme timing properties and radiation hardness. In order to strengthen DEP capabilities in this area, we will:

• Procure novel diamond detectors with state-of-the-art timing preamplifiers and/or with high energy resolution.
• Upgrade and enlarge the pool of electronics units and equipment for diamond detector readout and detector front end electronics.
• Exchange knowledge, know-how and experience, and organize a workshop on diamond detector systems development and testing with collaborators from prominent European institutions.
• Hire an experienced researcher in diamond sensors to transfer know-how to the local staff and to aid in all levels of this objective.

To reinforce the potential and capability for the testing of state-of-the-art silicon and diamond detector systems for charged particles detection.

Facilities for testing detector systems need specially designed vacuum chambers connected to the accelerator beam line for in-beam tests, including timing and energy response to simulated real experimental environments,. Construction and installation of such unit, planned under this project, will greatly increase the RBI capability for such complex and crucial detector testing. This would enable the RBI accelerator facility to become a future practical test facility for large European laboratories. In addition to the vacuum chamber, the acquisition of a laser system setup is also envisaged. With it RBI would strengthen its capabilities to perform precision tests on the spatial accuracy of both silicon and diamond detectors. Through the project, we will:

• Design, procure equipment, and finally build a vacuum chamber system.
• Procure elements for a full laser setup for silicon and diamond detector testing.
• Exchange knowledge, know-how and experience with collaborators from prominent European institutions.
• Hire an experienced researcher in technical science to transfer his/her know-how to the local staff and to aid in all levels of this objective.

To strengthen the capabilities for development and testing of detector data acquisition and process control systems used in nuclear and particle physics experiments.

Detector system development and final usage in nuclear and particle physics experiments, including related applied research, requires sophisticated data acquisition and state of the art control systems. While members of the NPP laboratories possess the know-how for such systems, the lack of appropriate equipment at RBI facilities hinders them from fully utilizing this knowledge. An upgrade of the existing software and hardware tools, as well as the acquisition of specialized state of the art electronics, will enable future participation in collaborative and local projects on equal basis with international partners. In order to reinforce potential and capabilities of the NPP laboratories in this area, we will:

• Procure novel data acquisition modules and related state-of the-art software.
• Acquire Printed Circuit Board prototyping abilities.
• Procure electronic components and tools for detector process control devices.
• Exchange knowledge, know-how and experience, and organize a workshop on detector data acquisition and detector process control with collaborators from prominent European institutions.
• Hire an experienced researcher in detector data acquisition and process control systems to transfer his/her know-how to the local staff and to aid in all levels of this objective.

To strengthen the organization of the upgraded detector development facility, to mobilize human resources, to strengthen synergy between activities of the NPP laboratories, and to increase the visibility inside and outside RBI (at national and international levels).

This project aims to strengthen synergy between the groups, and unify their efforts into one coherent action leading to an improved organization, to sharing of resources between all project partners, and to better usage of these resources. This will be achieved by:

• Strengthening and mobilizing human resources. The technical staff of the NPP laboratories involved in detector development will continue to work at their present positions. However, this staff will also take part in activities of interest to some or all project partners where their expertise may help. The new staff employed (Objectives 1-4) will have a duty to supervise all related activities.
• Dissemination of knowledge and project results at all levels, and strengthening communication between the NPP laboratories and other research entities having similar scientific interests. Dissemination of knowledge of the project results will be done at the national and international level. The goal is to increase and to strengthen the participation of the scientists from the NPP laboratories in collaborative projects, and for them to become equal partners with the research groups from abroad. Having this in mind, several workshops at RBI will be organized for targeted groups of possible new collaborators at the national and European level. New experimental, research, development and testing capabilities of the upgraded facility at relevant international conferences will be presented. Regular seminars for all research staff of RBI and of the University of Zagreb will be organized. In order to spread the project results to the general public, the staff will participate at annually held RBI Open Days. The existing web site will be upgraded to present the increased experimental capabilities.