“(Almost) any shape I can think of, I can also print – because the great advantage of 3D printing is the many geometric freedoms. In addition, we can process several starting materials simultaneously and print prototypes and small quantities cost-effectively. Therefore, our goal is to establish 3D printing as a new procedure for manufacturing detectors. In the PRISMA+ detector laboratory, I mainly work with scintillators and light guides.”

Manufacturing such scintillators is not easy – for example, they must be optically transparent and must not age too quickly. For this purpose, we add certain additives to plastic granules as a starting product and repeatedly change the printing parameters. It is the teamwork that makes up my research: We work together on a process and proceed very analytically and systematically, and not according to the motto “trial and error.” We characterize both the starting materials and the printed product with a broad spectrum of analytical methods. The development of scintillators is a focus in Mainz and 3D printing as a processing procedure is of great interest, although we are still at the beginning.

In the fall of 2021, I started my physics program of study in Mainz as a professionally qualified student. Previously, I completed training as a plastics technologist in Switzerland. I had contact with the Mu3e experiment, in which Niklaus Berger in Mainz is also conducting research. He drew my attention to the exciting possibilities in the detector laboratory, and since then I have been involved as a student graduate assistant in current research projects.

More than that: Here I can optimally combine all my physical interests – detectors, scintillators, 3D printing – and also benefit directly from my training. For me, that closes the circle.”

Anja Bitar is in her third semester studying physics. Her career path is exceptional in many ways: She began her program of study as a professionally qualified student, and she has been conducting research in the PRISMA+ detector laboratory as a graduate assistant since her first semester. Her topic: Light guides and scintillators from a 3D printer.

Photo: Angelika Stehle