Optical laboratory
Optical dark clean room, equipped with a monochromator, and all necessary equipment for photon detection R&D and characterization. This includes:
- Vacuum monochromator with Tungsten and Deuterium lamps
- LEDs of several wavelengths, lasers
- Compact spectrometer
- Gas tight dark box with optical table
- Large gas tight dark box for photon collector efficiency measurements in gas argon
- Visible, UV and VUV sensitive SiPMs and photomultipliers
- Power supplies and pico-ammeter
- Linear stages, motorized iris
- Rotatory stages for angular resolved reflectance measurements
- Motorized sample holder
- VUV mirrors and beam splitters
- Binary gas analyzer
- Gas argon supply line
Cryogenics laboratory
Equipped with all the necessary instrumentation for temperature sensing and SiPM R&D and calibration in cryogenic environments:
- Overhead crane
- Readout system for RTDs with 24 channels and 0.3 mK intrinsic resolution
- Readout system for FBG fibers (interrogator) with 16 channels and 30 fm wavelength resolution
- Pressure controlled vessel to change the temperature of cryogenics liquids. Used for FBG sensitivity measurements
- 50 liters dewar for SiPM characterization (MASSIBO, right image)
- 1.5 m tall, 15 cm diameter dewar for studying FBG sensitivity and reproducibility.
- Polystyrene dewar with several concentric volumes for RTD calibration
- Cage to store cryogenic liquids and pressurized gas bottles
- Optical cryostat: parts received at IFIC, (see below). Being assembled.
Electronics laboratories
Electronics laboratory dedicated to the design, assembly, prototyping, and characterization of PCBs and instrumentation for detector R&D. The group benefits from access to IFIC’s general technical service, which provides PCB fabrication (CNC machining and chemical etching), professional soldering services, high-resolution optical inspection, and reflow ovens.
In addition to this shared facility, the group operates a dedicated in-house laboratory equipped with:
- Multiple soldering and rework stations
- High-resolution inspection microscope
- Large stock of electronic components for rapid prototyping
- Instrumentation for PCB testing and characterization
This laboratory supports the development and validation of electronics for the neutrino group, including:
- Gain characterization of transimpedance amplifier boards for silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) readout
- Testing and validation of custom-designed PCBs
- Development of dedicated prototypes such as:
- Strain gauge monitoring systems
- Vacuum feedthrough electronics
- Process automation and control boards
- Temperature control and monitoring systems
The facility is also prepared to evaluate electronics under conditions close to their final operation environment, including:
- Vacuum conditions
- Controlled pressure environments
- Cryogenic operation setups
This capability ensures reliable performance validation of electronic systems in realistic experimental conditions.
NEXT-DEMO++ Laboratory
The IFIC hosts a fully equipped laboratory for the R&D in high-pressure TPCs, as well as for the construction of specific parts of the NEXT detectors. In particular, the NEXT-DEMO++ detector (a 1 kg-prototype of NEXT-100) and a complete gas system for its operation are installed in a 20 m2 clean room. This detector, along with the associated electronics, is used to conduct different R&D lines
COLINA laboratory
The laboratory, currently being set-up, is dedicated to different R&D activities related to the COLINA project. It will host the p-COLINA demonstrator, a small-scale prototype of the COLINA detector. The space will be prepared to house two liquid noble gas TPCs with all their subsystems: cryostat, recirculation and purification systems, etc.
