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The research of this study was focused on a novel monolithic particle detector, the amorphous-silicon-based microchannel plate (AMCP). This is a vacuum detector, which enables the detection of different types of particle by means of an electron multiplication mechanism. The novelty consists in the fabrication of the microchannel plate (MCP) with a completely new process, where amorphous silicon (a-Si) replaces the lead glass of conventional MCPs.

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Dr. Andrea Franco completed the Bachelor in Physics in 2005 and the Master in Solid State Physics in 2007. After two years in the space industry, he enrolled as Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Photovoltaics (PV-Lab) of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. His PhD research won the Prix OMEGA Scientific Award.

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