BEXUS Projects of Kiel University
SETH – CHAOS – FaNS – TANOS – ADAM – PING – FRED
Some impressions from CHAOS’s trip to CERN. We got the chance to perform measurements in the CERF radiation field which is supposed to recreate the radiation environment at commercial flight altitudes. Although there were some problems with the particle beam which is used to create the radiation field, we were finally able to take our measurements during the final night of our stay. Now, we are looking forward to evaluate the data.
Yesterday, on May 15th 2025, we had our Critical Design Review. After 20 minutes of information packed presentation by us we had a discussion about our design, requirements and general SED content.
During the presentation we showed around our preamplifier, ADC and NMRENA boards which represent the signal flow from the detector to the SD Card. We also presented the wrapped BGO scintillation crystal in its holder, complete with the mounting mechanism of the photodiodes that go on top and below the BGO holder. Here, the board gave some input on possible design improvements for easier and more light-weight fabication and mounting. After the review the experts said that they were happy to see the progress we made in real life instead of just pictures on a slide.
The board critisised our thermal design requesting more information and more calculations. However the overall progress of the project seemed to be satisfactory for the reviewers and we get to go ahead with finishing up fabrication and moving on to sub-system wise integrating and testing of our parts.
Today it’s time to say “Goodbye, CDR!” and head home. We are set to arrive in Kiel at 17:22 after traveling via Amsterdam and Osnabrück.
Today is the day that team SETH is set to join up in Leiden, near ESA’s ESTEC facility in Nordwijk!
The route from Kiel to Leiden should only take about 7h20 by train. However with a signal failure and damage to the overhead line in Hamburg and a cancelled train from Osnabrück to Amsterdam, the journey is all but straight forward. After getting off in Osnabrück HBF at short notice, we caught a local train to Hengelo. The Netherlands welcomed us by canceling the next few stops of our newly made up route due to an broken train on the track.
After checking the next options, we chose an Intercity train going to Amsterdam and connecting to an IC heading to Vlissingen via Leiden Centraal! We arrived in Amsterdam with a delay of about 25 minutes, missing this train.
Thankfuly there was another train departing for Rotterdam over Leiden. With a total travel time of 10 hours and 10 minutes we will finally make it to our destination at 19:13.
The next Review on our journey is the Critical Design Review, or CDR for short, from 14th May to 17th May. There, the reviewers will critically review the proposed design. After the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in February, this is the second and last of the two design reviews.
We have submitted the second version of the Student Experiment Documentation (SED) for the review and will give a 20-minute presentation on the changes we have made since the last review.
Once this review is approved (fingers crossed), we will receive the official go-ahead to begin manufacturing all parts. We will start with single-part testing before gradually integrating and building more complex sub-groups and sub-functions. Each will be tested until the Integration Progress Review (IPR), where the initial functionality will be assessed by the reviewers visiting our institute.