Zecotek Announces Sale of New-Generation Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research for CERN COMPASS Experiment
Singapore, March 29, 2011 - Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I.F)today announced that the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) has selected the Company’s solid-state MAPDs for the COMPASS experiment at CERN. COMPASS is a multi-purpose experiment in high-energy physics taking place at CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator located in Switzerland. The MAPDs will be used in the electromagnetic calorimeter, a critical device for the experiment being developed by JINR. The device requires photo detectors with extreme sensitivity, a uniquely high dynamic range and the ability to survive intense radiation – qualities which set Zecotek’s MAPD’s apart from competing technologies.
“Our decision to select Zecotek’s MAPD was based on its performance parameters in sensitivity, very high dynamic range and radiation hardness,” said Prof. Alexander Olshevskiy, Director of Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems of JINR. “We have been highly impressed with the performance of this device in testing, which represents a new paradigm in photo detection.”
“The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is another important participant in CERN’s experimental program, and their selection of our new-generation MAPD is yet another welcome endorsement for our technological solutions,” Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. “This is the third major experiment at CERN to use our solid-state photo detectors, because of its compact size and insensitivity to magnetic fields it. With each experiment we develop a stronger relationship with the scientific community at CERN and we are proud to be a part of this tremendous scientific undertaking.”
The MAPDs will be delivered through Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd, Zecotek’s Singapore-based and wholly-owned subsidiary. JINR’s decision to select the MAPD followed from previous experiments at CERN and Zecotek’s participation in a recent CERN sponsored colloquium on Silicon Photo Detectors.
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About JINR
The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) is an international intergovernmental scientific research organization established through the Convention signed on 26 March 1956 by eleven founding States and registered with the United Nations on 1 February 1957. The Institute was established with the aim of uniting the efforts, scientific and material potentials of its Member States for investigations of the fundamental properties of matter. It is situated in Dubna not far from Moscow in the Russian Federation. The main fields of JINR’s activity are theoretical and experimental studies in elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics. The research policy of JINR is determined by the Scientific Council, which consists of eminent scientists from the Member States as well as researchers from China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Switzerland, the USA, and the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN). There are 7 Laboratories at JINR, by the scope of scientific activities each being compatible with a large research institution. JINR’s staff totals about 5000 people, including more than 1200 scientists, 2000 engineers and technicians.
About COMPASS
COMPASS is a high-energy physics experiment at the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of this experiment is the study of hadron structure and hadron spectroscopy with high intensity muon and hadron beams. Nearly 240 physicists from 11 countries and 28 institutions work in COMPASS.
About CERN
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter — the fundamental particles. By studying what happens when these particles collide, physicists learn about the laws of Nature. CERN is the home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). LHC experiments will address questions such as what gives matter its mass, what the invisible 96% of the Universe is made of, why nature prefers matter to antimatter and how matter evolved from the first instants of the Universe’s existence. Founded in 1954, the CERN Laboratory sits astride the Franco–Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has 20 Member States. For more information about CMS please visithttp://cms.web.cern.ch/cms/Detector/WhatCMS/index.html.
About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I) is a photonics technology company developing high-performance crystals, photo detectors, medical lasers, optical imaging and 3D display technologies for commercial applications in the medical diagnostics and high-tech industry. Founded in 2003, the company has three distinct operating divisions: medical imaging, medical lasers and 3D display and labs located in Canada, Singapore and Russia. Zecotek commercializes its novel, patented and patent-pending bio-photonic technologies directly and through strategic alliances and joint ventures with multinational OEMs, distributors and other industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.zecotek.com.
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