The development of the GridPix technology has been started at Nikhef in 2002 by Prof Harry van der Graaf.

• Using GridPix detection technology
  • GridPix: A thin grid is attached onto the pixel chip. By applying a negative potential to the grid the single electron is multiplied by a gas avalanche
• The detector elements
  • Present Quad from four TimePix3 chips (more info)
  • 12 operational quads have been realized
• Future Single from one TimePix4 chips
  • Project not yet started
• Grouping the elements to form a larger detector system
  • Eight Quad testbox
    • Talk on February 25, 2019
    • Talk on Sept. 23, 2019
• Testing the detectors
  • UV laser beam
    • Thesis Univ. of Amsterdam, Nov. 6 1990 (43 Mb)
• Testbeam
  • DESY June 13 - 28, 2021
• Ionic investigations
  • Positive ions that could spoil the drift field
    • Originating from direct ionization and avalanche leakage through the grid
  • Negative ions from electrons captured by electronegative gases
    • CS₂ investigated

The GridPix investigations and developments were done in the framework of the ILC (International Linear Collider) initiative at Nikhef and have been terminated.
The research is continued at other institutes like the Physics Institute of Bonn University (contact Dr Jochen Kaminski, Prof Klaus Desch).

To visualize cosmic rays, spark chambers have been built at Nikhef.

• Portable spark chambers(a few events) for lectures. They may also be loaned for limited time by people outside Nikhef like teachers or lecturers.
  • Dutch Manuals: extended (914 kB); short (157 kB); engineering drawings.
• Large spark chambers. Set-up at Nikhef.
  • User manual(1.7 MB) and service manual Dutch (2.5 MB)

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