Global team and breakthrough technologies
Our research is driven by an international team of scientists and engineers, including experienced researchers, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and highly-skilled technicians.
Our shared mission is not only to explore the mysteries of the hidden Universe, but also to deliver innovations that may help improve everyday life. Some of the tools we develop for fundamental research have clear applications beyond the laboratory.
These technologies can help build more precise PET scanners for cancer diagnostics, more efficient solar cells, better environmental monitoring systems and safer critical infrastructure. By bridging fundamental science with practical solutions, we contribute to both global research and societal progress.
Learn more about our research groups
Photonics for Particle Astrophysics and Sustainable Energy Group
The group is actively engaged in testing and developing advanced SiPM modules for the DarkSide-20k experiment, including responsibility for module testing in the veto detector. In addition, the team contributes to the development of high-performance WLS/LDS materials, photodetectors and other optical solutions for the next generation large liquid argon-based detectors, with potential applications in broader scientific and industrial contexts.
The group is recognized for pioneering the use of PEN polymer in the DarkSide-20k veto detector. Current R&D efforts focus on synthesizing improved and more efficient PEN materials in collaboration with IChP.
Beyond fundamental research, the group has established cooperation agreements with industrial partners, exploring the application of PEN and related materials in photovoltaic cells and dosimetry.
Medical Physics and Radiation Detectors Group
This group is engaged in the design of dark matter (DM) detectors using liquid argon technology. The infrastructure being developed at the CEZAMAT laboratory, including advanced cryogenic systems and electronics, is central to these activities. Research efforts combine fundamental science with practical applications, addressing broader societal challenges, particularly in healthcare innovation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group contributed to the development of the Milano Ventilator (MVM), a cost-effective, mass-producible mechanical ventilator that helped meet global demand during the shortage. Once MVM entered mass production, collaborations were established with medical device engineers and companies such as Vexos and Elemaster, which initiated manufacturing in North America and Europe. These partnerships are expected to support the continued progress of the 3Dπ project in future development stages.
Electronics, Seismic and Environmental Sensors Group
This group is advancing the development of infrasound and seismic sensors for both scientific and industrial applications. These instruments are ready for commercialization, with patent applications completed and implementation documentation prepared, reaching TRL8. The devices have been successfully tested at EGO with the gravitational wave (GW) detector and are planned for integration into the future Einstein Telescope (ET), while also offering potential for non-scientific uses.
The demanding sensitivity requirements of the ET highlight the need for new sensor technologies not currently available on the market. To address this, the group is further developing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), a critical technology for next-generation detectors. Their expertise in designing reliable electronics, built through collaborations with GW observatories and Hyper-K, represents a valuable asset that can also support the activities of other research groups.
Particle Astrophysics Theory Group
This group strengthens our research profile by providing the theoretical foundations essential for modern astroparticle physics. As new data emerge from dark‑matter experiments, gravitational‑wave detectors and neutrino observatories, our theorists play a key role in interpreting signals, developing new models and supporting experimental teams with predictions, signatures and detector requirements. Their work covers dark‑matter candidates and detection prospects, the physics of the early Universe, gravitational‑wave sources, and the fundamental properties of neutrinos, including their cosmological and geological implications. By combining expertise in particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, and collaborating closely with international partners, the Theory Group is positioned to respond to new discoveries, explore scenarios of new physics, and help shape the next generation of experiments that will deepen our understanding of the Universe.