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Instrumentation Division

Developing state-of-the-art instrumentation for basic research and applications in national security and industry

instrumentation photo

The mission of Brookhaven Lab’s Instrumentation Division is to develop state-of-the-art instrumentation for basic research as well as for applications in national security and industry. We maintain the expertise and facilities to support basic research programs at Brookhaven Lab and around the world and for technology development with key partners. The Instrumentation Division’s research efforts also have a significant impact on programs elsewhere in the world that rely on advanced radiation detectors and their associated readout electronics and data acquisition.

To see how you can get involved with this facility, contact Gabriella Carini at (631) 344-3004.

Basic Research

Activities at the forefront of technology require a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and physics involved in the process under development. An example of this type of research is our cathode work: We use the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and Cornell’s High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) to conduct in-situ x-ray studies of photocathode materials used to generate particle beams. Similarly, we carry out studies to understand the behavior and performance of our detector systems in extreme conditions, e.g. in high-radiation environments and at extremely cold (cryogenic) temperatures. Quantum information science is our newest research effort.

Applied Research

Brookhaven Lab’s Instrumentation Division has a long tradition of developing novel detection concepts and advanced instrumentation techniques. Examples include semiconductor devices for photon and particle detection, and gas and noble liquid detectors for neutron, photon and particle detection deployed around the world that were designed and mostly manufactured in our facilities. We’ve developed and implemented very-low-noise front-end and novel readout schemes in our Application Specific Integrated Circuits, which are used in detectors for applications in high energy physics, photon science, astrophysics, medical science, and more. We’ve also designed and developed high-throughput data systems (both for acquisition and control) to enable data-intense experiments in the facilities at Brookhaven Lab and around the world. We develop highly efficient photocathodes by engineering the photocathode materials.

Test Facilities and Expertise

The wide breadth of activities in Brookhaven Lab’s Instrumentation Division is enabled by a set of key capabilities including laboratories for the development of silicon sensors , gas and noble liquid detectors, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). We also have device-level computer aided design, board-level circuit design, and high-throughput data acquisition capabilities; an assembly and high-density interconnect laboratory; and facilities for the development and production of photocathodes for detector and accelerator applications.

Workforce Development

In addition to the educational internships and workforce development programs offered across disciplines at Brookhaven Lab, the Instrumentation Division offers opportunities for independent research for faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students. We maintain a close relationship with Stony Brook University and host several students who perform their research in instrumentation related fields.