19 June 2026

Photo: UHH

From 8-19 June, the group welcomed the 42 participants of the DESY Training in Experimental Concepts and Techniques (D.TECT). Over the course of two weeks, early-career researchers participated in a programme of lectures and laboratory exercises, gaining hands-on experience with a broad range of instrumentation methods used in particle and astro-particle physics.

The group was heavily involved in the organisation and delivery of the school. Prof. Dr. Nikolopoulos delivered two lectures on gaseous detectors, which were complemented by a practical laboratory exercise, led by Dr. I. Manthos, Dr. I. Oceano, and Dr. L. Millins. Participants learnt the operating principles of the Spherical Proportional Counter and carried out and individual anode calibration of the detector. Working in groups of three, they acquired data across a range of operating voltages and analysed the results to produce gain curved for three anodes. Using these calibrations, the participants calculated correction voltages to equalise the gain of the three anodes. A selection of the obtained results can be seen in the photos. 

The lab exercise received very positive feedback, and we thoroughly enjoyed welcoming the school participants to our laboratory!