HEP strategic retreat Lei Xia MCP photo detector group

About myself  I joined Argonne HEP in 2002, as a postdoc  I spent a lot of time working on ILC detector R&D –Develop Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC’s) for hadron calorimeter –Design, build and test a prototype Digital Hadron Calorimeter (DHCal) –Detector simulation –Data analysis –Development of Particle Flow Algorithm (PFA)  In the last two years, I worked on MCP base photo detectors (used to be LAPPD) –Detector processing –Design optimization 2

How I feel about Argonne HEP  There are plenty of (very) challenging projects/tasks in the division that one can take –I personally love challenges in work, and I was never disappointed  Good work is very well recognized/rewarded  We have kind colleagues who can give advice/help/mentoring/support  We also have wonderful electronic/mechanical groups that help you make things happen, especially when you seem to have a great idea… 3

My view of the field in the next ~10 years  My assumption is that the high energy physics research will continue to go through a steady decline (sorry for the depressing view) –Budget will steadily shrink in most areas –New large scale/exciting projects will be few and far between –Funding decisions will likely to be more and more “short sighted” (this is an observation, not a blame to the funding agency) In terms of detector R&D, development tied to a project is more likely to be supported More generic development will have a hard time to fit into the current program  Based on these assumptions, I will try to share some of my ‘detector R&D centric’ thinking 4

Argonne HEP is in a unique position to deal with the challenges in the field  Argonne HEP has unique capabilities –We have a lot of rare/unique expertise's in the field, both traditional and fancy new stuff Calorimetry for HEP experiment Photo detector and MCP related detectors Superconductor related detectors …… –We are in a multidisciplinary lab Potential users of our capabilities (and bring in resource and projects from outside HEP) Potential capabilities that can be used by us –We can make things happen when a new idea comes up Electronic and mechanical group We also have the whole lab as a potential technology pool for us 5

How can we maintain our unique position  We need to try our best to maintain our existing capabilities –Hoping DOE to pay and maintain something that has no immediate use is not realistic –Application within HEP projects is limited, and usually is not sufficient –Believing that we can have them forever without any activities is also a bad idea –Application outside the original scope or even outside HEP could help DHCAL  prototype calorimeter  comic ray / muon veto for ANNIE (tried, but didn’t work out)  calibration system for μ2e CRV? (just try again!) ↓   work with people who has resource and interest in DHCAL MCP detector  vacuum R&D/production facility  cryogenic detector  neutron detector  VUV photocathode  joint ANNIE, EIC, …  Need to convince DOE (and ourselves!) that this is beneficial to HEP  Need to actively searching for opportunities: let others know what we can do for them, and need to hear what others want 6 wait for the next large collider

How can we maintain our unique position  We also need to strategically pick new R&D projects to develop new capabilities MCP photo detector development  Atomic Layer Deposition and other thin film technology  Customized glass packaging  UHV technology  Photocathode expertise  Hermetic sealing  A vacuum transfer system that can be used as a vacuum (photo) detector R&D/production facility  Need to actively search for potential help we can get within the lab, also need to let others know what we need 7

Boost our connection with other divisions/institutes  Seminars: invite speakers from outside HEP, and go to other division’s seminars  Invest time to learn about other fields’ instrumentation needs  Encourage everyone to contribute their connections for potential resource/opportunities  Can the lab create something to enhance the connection between divisions?  Other ideas? 8

Summary  The road ahead for the field is not easy  Our division has unique capabilities, but we need to find good ways to maintain these capabilities and develop new ones  We need everyone’s help to build better connections with other divisions/institutes 9