Second Major Experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research Orders Zecotek’s MAPD Solid-State Photo Detectors
Vancouver, BC, April 28, 2009 - Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I.F), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, is pleased to announce that the NA61 Experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Switzerland, has submitted purchase orders for Zecotek’s proprietary third generation Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes (MAPD-3N). This is the second major experiment at CERN to order MAPD-3Ns, the first being the previously announced purchase order from the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment.
“As one of the world’s most important centres for scientific research, it is gratifying to receive yet another welcome endorsement from CERN for our technological solutions,��? said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek. “The importance of the experiments at CERN cannot be understated. The Large Hadron Collider is the largest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built and is central to the next generation of scientific experiments at CERN. We look forward to supporting the various scientific teams at CERN with our technology in this tremendous quest of understanding the makeup of the universe��?.
The goal of the NA61 Experiment is to measure the production of hadrons (a class of subatomic particles) in heavy ion collisions and to search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter. A new measuring device, the Projectile Spectator Detector calorimeter (PSD), will be used to measure the number of the non-interacting particles in the collisions, on an event-by-event basis. The PSD will allow experimenters to determine the number of particles participating in the reaction, made possible through Zecotek’s MAPD-3N’s unique high pixel density of 15,000/mm2. The MAPD-3N provides the linear response and energy resolution, amongst other characteristics, required for these ultra sensitive experiments.
CERN’s decision to incorporate the MAPD as the critical sensing technology for its new PSD followed several months of extensive testing and represents yet another market for the proprietary devices. The MAPDs will be delivered through Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based and wholly-owned subsidiary.
The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the granting of 2,880,000 common share options (“stock options”) pursuant to the Corporation’s incentive stock option plan (the “Plan”) to the directors, officers and employees (the “optionee”) of the Company. The Plan is administered by the Board of Directors who make allocations from time to time to eligible persons after considering their present and potential contributions and value to the Company. Each stock option can be exercised by the optionee into common shares of the Company, issued from treasury, at an exercise price of $0.65 per share. The term of the stock options granted under the Plan will be five years, vesting over 18 months with 25% vesting immediately and 25% every subsequent six month period. The stock options granted are in accordance with regulatory policy as determined by the TSX Venture Exchange. The proposed granting of these stock options is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.
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. The instruments used at CERN are particle accelerators and detectors. Accelerators boost beams of particles to high energies before they are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets. Detectors observe and record the results of these collisions. 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 visit http://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, lasers, optical imaging and 3D display technologies for commercial applications in the medical diagnostics and high-tech industries. Founded in 2003, the company operates three distinct divisions: imaging, lasers and 3D display, with labs located in Canada, USA, Singapore and Russia. Zecotek commercializes its novel, patented and patent-pending 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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