* Title: Numerical simulation of silicon particle detectors
* Prof: Marco Mandurrino, marco.mandurrino@to.infn.it
* CFU: 4
* Period: 16 hrs from January 2019, 2 hrs per lecture (3 theoretical classes + 3 hands-on sessions + follow-up + final discussion)
* Prerequisites: Basic background knowledge of solid-state physics, particle detectors and numerical methods. Basic programming skills
* Goal: Students will be driven from book-like topics about silicon properties and silicon-based devices towards the issues and the potentialities of designing a real particle detector. This will be achieved through the analysis of some actual structures to be implemented in high-energy physics experiments and thanks to the use of a Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) tool
* Programme:
1. A review of basic concepts about solid-state physics: from orbitals to the theory of bands; carriers statistics; the p-n junction and the most important diode equations
2. Overview of typical numerical techniques for the simulation of electronic devices: from the Boltzmann equation (BTE) to semiclassical transport models; the drift-diffusion framework; generation/recombination of charge carriers; processes and models beyond the semiclassical picture (tunneling, ...)
3. From the analitical description to numerical modeling: linearization and discretization of the drift-diffusion model; algorithms for solving ODE; basic concepts about convergence issues of iterative methods; introduction to the TCAD (Technology Computer-Aided Design) simulation approach
4. Description of the commercial tool Synopsys(C) Sentaurus Device
5. Hands-on sessions: 5a.) simulation of a simple 1D silicon diode; 5b.) 2D implementation of a pn-junction-based silicon sensor; 5c.) more advanced simulations of a realistic particle detector
6. Follow-up activities on the simulator concerning the final project
7. At the end of the course students will discuss with the lecturer and the class a project investigating the simulation of a device of their own choice (individual or in small groups)
* Bibliography: Course material and proper references will be given by the lecturer throughout the course
* Notes: Students who are willing to attend this course are requested to register by sending an email to Dr. Marco Mandurrino (marco.mandurrino@to.infn.it)