SkuTek Instrumentation
We specialize in Digital Pulse Processing electronics (DPP), which is a subfield of digital signal processing (DSP) applied to an electrical signal converted to a stream of digital samples. After digitization, the stream of samples is processed with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) running a numerical algorithm. The algorithm computes signal characteristics such as its frequency, amplitude, duration, etc.
In the field of Nuclear Physics we are mostly dealing with transient pulse signals generated by detectors of single photons, gamma quanta, or charged particles. The digitizer hardware and digital algorithms must preserve both the amplitude and the shape of the pulse. Construction of such hardware and the pulse-processing algorithms are our specialties.
Our products serve in physics experiments which capture very rapid changes of signals. One of such experiments is conducted deep in the underground laboratory in Lead, South Dakota. There, extremely sensitive light detectors are constantly watching a metal container filled with liquid xenon. The detectors are waiting for a faint flash of light that will be created when an elusive Dark Matter particle hits one of the xenon atoms. The flash of light will last for about one millionth of a second. Our instruments are constantly measuring the output from the xenon detector in order to recognize the light pulses released by the Dark Matter particles.
Detection of Dark Matter will answer the most important scientific question of our times: What is the Universe really composed of? Planets, stars, and galaxies are not the main ingredients of our world. The invisible Dark Matter is far more abundant than the visible matter is. Our instruments will help detect this invisible ingredient and establish its nature. We are very happy that our instruments are participating in the most exciting scientific project of our times!
In addition to basic research, our instruments are also used in students labs, where future scientists are learning how to perform experiments.