Dr Jaap J Velthuis

My core research focuses on detector development for future particle physics experiments and its spin-offs, mainly in the fields of nuclear waste management, radiation measurements, radiotherapy and homeland security. I focus on the design, development and characterisation of novel radiation detectors, the accompanying data analysis and radiation damage effects in detectors and electronics. 

I have been working on the development of sensors aimed towards the Linear Collider with strong emphasis on Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) based systems. Using the knowledge and experience from particle physics, we are now developing a system for radiotherapy verification. We have shown treatment beam shape measurements with most excellent precision and invented a completely novel way for real time dosimetry as well.

In particle physics, I focus on the development of a new Velo detector, the innermost and most important detector of the LHCb experiment at CERN. I am also involved in the detector development for the mu3e experiment that will be built at PSI and am  joining the CEPC effort.

Over the years, I developed a strong interest in cosmic ray tomography for nuclear waste characterisation and homeland security. Inintially we started to develop a scanner to detect lumps of high-Z material hidden in shipping containers using cosmic rays to prevent nuclear devices being smuggled into the country. The technique we developed using cosmic radiation is amongst others also applicable for nuclear waste management. We built detectors and have developed algorithms to identify the material and measure the size of small objects embedded in concrete. Furthermore, we are now able to find air bubbles in concrete as well. Currently, I am the work package manager for the cosmic ray tomography work package in the H2020 funded CHANCE project. CHANCE is aimed at characterisation of conditioned nuclear waste. Muon tomography is one of the core work packages. Furthermore, we are developing the technique for civil nuclear engineering inspections.