Printing out Particle Detectors with 3D-Printers, a Potentially Transformational Advance for HEP Instrumentation

Abstract

This white paper suggests posing a "grand challenge" to the HEP instrumentation community, i.e. the aggressive development of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D-printing, for the production of particle detectors in collaboration with industry. This notion is an outcome of discussions within the instrumentation frontier group during the 2013 APS-DPF Snowmass summer study conducted by the U.S. HEP community. Improvements of current industrial 3D-printing capabilities by one to two orders of magnitude in terms of printing resolution, speed, and object size together with developing the ability to print composite materials could enable the production of any desired 3D detector structure directly from a digital model. Current industrial 3D-printing capabilities are briefly reviewed and contrasted with capabilities desired for printing detectors for particle physics, with micro-pattern gaseous detectors used as a first example. A significant impact on industrial technology could be expected if HEP were to partner with industry in taking on such a challenge.