Zecotek Announces Sale of New-Generation Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology For Use in CERN Large Hadron Collider Experiments
Singapore, May 10, 2011 - Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, today announced that the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) has selected Zecotek’s new-generation, solid-state micro-pixel avalanche photo diodes (MAPD) as a key component in the electromagnetic calorimeter aimed at the development of a science platform for cosmic-ray measurements.
“Our decision to purchase Zecotek’s MAPDs was based on our requirement for photo detectors with very high dynamic range and good quantum efficiency,” said Dr. Werner Lustermann, a senior researcher at the famous Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. “Zecotek’s MAPDs are unique devices, as they combine, linearity over a wide dynamic range with a high gain when compared to APDs, a good quantum efficiency, low operation voltage, magnetic field tolerance, small form factor, robustness and easy handling.”
“We are very pleased that ETH has selected our MAPD for this new application,” said Dr. Faouzi Zerrouk, Chairman, President and CEO of Zecotek Photonics. “It is another clear endorsement of our MAPD’s unique properties and we are particularly pleased in being selected for yet another important experiment at the frontier of High Energy Physics.”
The order will be delivered through Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd, Zecotek’s Singapore-based and wholly-owned subsidiary. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s decision to select Zecotek’s unique patented MAPD followed from previous experiments at CERN and Zecotek’s participation in a recent CERN sponsored colloquium on Silicon Photo Detectors (SiPM’s).
The device will be tested and calibrated at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in September 2011.
About The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (ETH)
Founded in 1855, ETH is one of the leading international universities for technology and the natural sciences with more than 16,000 students from approximately 80 countries, 3,500 of whom are doctoral candidates. More than 400 professors teach and conduct research in the areas of engineering, architecture, mathematics, natural sciences, system-oriented sciences, and management and social sciences.
ETH Zurich regularly appears at the top of international rankings as one of the best universities in the world. 21 Nobel Laureates have studied, taught or conducted research at ETH Zurich, underlining the excellent reputation of the institute.
Transferring its knowledge to the private sector and society at large is one of ETH Zurich’s primary concerns. It has succeeded in this, as borne out by the 80 new patent applications each year and the 215 spin-off companies that were created out of the institute between 1996 and 2010. ETH Zurich orients its research strategy around global challenges such as climate change, world food supply and human health issues.
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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 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, 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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Zecotek Photonics Inc. CHF Investor Relations
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