Detectors in Particle Physics

Georg Viehhauser is a Lecturer in the Physics department at the University of Oxford, UK, and a supernumerary fellow at St. John’s College, Oxford, UK. He has been working on a variety of different particle detector technologies, starting with the Forward Chamber A at the DELPHI experiment, the LKr calorimeter for NA48, the muon chambers for ATLAS, and the RICH for CLEO III. More recently, he has contributed to the construction of the ATLAS SCT and he is currently involved in the phase 2 upgrade of the ATLAS ITk, as well as the SVT for the ePIC experiment. He is one of the main organisers of the Forum on Tracking Detector Mechanics.Tony Weidberg is a Professor of Physics at Oxford University, UK and a tutorial fellow at St. John’s College. He worked on CCD readout for a scintillating fibre detector at the CERN SPS collider. He played a major role in the founding of the ATLAS experiment and the design of the ATLAS SCT. He has a wide range of experience from detector R&D, assembly and integration of complex detector systems as well as evaluating their performance. He has extensive experience in radiation hardness studies, particularly for optoelectronics and applications of reliability theory.Both authors have a long experience in teaching undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Oxford.

The authors of the book are physicists, passionate to pass on their vast knowledge about detectors to graduate and advanced undergraduate students in experimental particle physics. The book provides a coherent overview of the field, starting with the basics of detection techniques and bringing the reader to state-of-the-art detector systems of complex particle physics experiments. It addresses as well challenges of detector application, such as alignment and calibration, which are often neglected in textbooks. End-of-chapter exercises provide students with a deeper understanding of each subject. I highly recommend it not only to students, but also to those who desire to broaden their knowledge about detectors in particle physics.- Burkhard Schmidt, Leader of the Detector Technologies Group, CERN, April 2024.“Progress in elementary particle physics is driven by the development of radiation-detection technologies. From early photographic emulsions to the gargantuan modern systems that are deployed at particle accelerators and astrophysics experiments, radiation detectors use extraordinary means to disclose the nature and fundamental interactions of elementary particles. In Detectors in Particle Physics, Georg Viehhauser and Tony Weidberg offer an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this intricate world.Addressed to graduate students in particle and nuclear, and more advanced researchers, this book provides the knowledge needed to understand and appreciate these indispensable tools. Building on their personal contributions to the conception, construction and operation of major detector systems at the DELPHI and ATLAS detectors at CERN, the authors review basic physics principles to enable the reader to grasp the fundamental operating mechanisms of gaseous, liquid and semiconductor detectors, as well as systems for particle identification and calorimetry. In addition to exploring core concepts in detector physics, another objective of the book is to introduce the reader to case studies of applications in particle physics and astrophysics.From the Large Hadron Collider to neutrino experiments, the University of Oxford-based authors connect theoretical physics to practical applications and present real-world examples of modern detectors, bridging the gap between theory and experimentation. The book describes key practical aspects of particle detectors, including electronics, alignment, calibration and simulation. These practical insights enhance the reader’s understanding of how detectors operate in experiments, and each chapter includes practical exercises to help further the reader’s understanding of the subject. Detectors in Particle Physics offers a unique blend of theoretical foundations and practical considerations. Whether you’re fascinated by the mysteries of the universe or planning a career in experimental physics, Viehhauser and Weidberg will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable resource.”—Fabio Sauli (CERN) in CERN Courier (July/August 2024).

• Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Interactions of Particles with Matter. Chapter 3: Electronic Signals and Noise. Chapter 4: Movement of Charges and Internal Amplification. Chapter 5: Response to Excitation. Chapter 6: Detection of Ionisation Without Charge Movement. Chapter 7: Gaseous Detectors. Chapter 8: Liquid Detectors. Chapter 9: Semiconductor Detectors. Chapter 10: Tracking. Chapter 11: Calorimetry. Chapter 12: Particle Identification. Chapter 13: Triggers. Chapter 14: Detector Systems and Applications. References. Index.