Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
Germany
fellow
Peter Švihra
2025-2026
Home institution
Czech Academy of Sciences
Country of origin (home institution)
Czechia
Discipline(s)
Computers and intelligent systems; Information and communication sciences; Sciences of the universe
Theme(s)
Digital Society; Labor, Capital & Innovation
Fellowship dates
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Biography
I obtained my PhD in 2022 from the University of Manchester (UK) under a President’s Doctoral Scholarship, focusing on the construction and quality assurance of the LHCb VELO detector modules for Upgrade I and the design of future detectors for Upgrade II. My thesis was awarded by the LHCb collaboration for its quality and contribution to the experiment’s upgrade. In parallel, I worked on the Tpx3Cam – a fast optical camera with precise timestamping – leading to its use in molecular dynamics and quantum technologies.
Before re-joining FZU and FNSPE in 2024, I was a senior fellow at CERN (CH), developing and testing single-die bonding for hybrid pixel detectors to enable rapid prototyping of new devices. I also maintained a Timepix3-based beam telescope and contributed to characterisation of numerous detector demonstrators, establishing groundwork for future projects.
My current work focuses on Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) based on 4H-SiC, exploring their superior radiation hardness and fast timing for next-generation applications. In parallel, I advance time-resolved imaging for visible-light and quantum technologies, including quantum imaging and quantum astrometry, where photon correlation and precise timing can push spatial and temporal resolution beyond classical limits.
Research Project
Development and Optimization of Advanced Semiconductor Sensors for High-Energy Physics and Beyond
Modern particle physics experiments rely on highly precise detectors to measure and time the trajectories of particles produced in high-energy collisions. This project focuses on developing advanced semiconductor sensors capable of operating with extreme precision and durability under intense radiation.
The research explores Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs), which combine fast timing with fine spatial resolution, and investigates ways to enhance their performance through simulation and testing. A key direction may also examine other sensors, such as silicon carbide (SiC), as a novel material for LGADs, offering improved radiation hardness and stability for next-generation detectors.
The results will contribute to the design of future high-precision tracking systems at particle colliders and extend to applications beyond fundamental physics — including medical imaging, ultrafast light detection, and industrial monitoring. By integrating modeling, fabrication, and characterization, the project advances semiconductor detector technology at the interface of science and engineering.
Research Interests:
Experimental physics; Applied physics; Semiconductor detector technologies; High-energy physics; Data processing