The Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics (IEAP) is a scientific-educational institution of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) oriented on physics research and technological applications. The IEAP was founded as an experimental laboratory center for research in the field of particle and nuclear physics which is carried out in frame of international experimental collaborations. On the side of instrumentation and applications, the IEAP focuses on the development of measuring methods and techniques for new technologies such as the development of novel semiconductor detectors of ionizing radiation.

The IEAP detector laboratories have been built as an experimental base for research and development of detector technology. With high spatial and energy resolution, current research is oriented on two- and three-dimensional methods of dynamic object imaging. The laboratories are equipped with primary standard as well as sophisticated instrumentation. In the field of modern detector applications, the IEAP has the following equipments at its disposal:

• Imaging position sensitive detectors (such as pixel detectors) of ionizing radiation which at present provide the best spatial resolution for on-line rentgenography and neutronography together with tomography analysis of collected data.
• Tracking position sensitive detectors (such as strip detectors) which serve for charged particle tracking.
• 3D and semi-3D structures of semiconductor detectors developed as neutron sensors with high detection efficiency.
• Measuring system for alpha, beta, and gamma spectroscopy.
• Precision instruments for electronic tests of semiconductors (I-V, C-V, DLTS, …).
• Equipment for measurements and tests of semiconductor detectors made of advanced materials (GaAs, CdTe, InP, BN, …) with a possible use namely for position sensitive imaging and charge transport property studies.
• Coincidence gamma-gamma system with high energy resolution for instrumental neutron activation analysis.
• Equipment for radon oriented studies.

In detector technology, the IEAP has built the following basic facilities:

• Clean rooms (cleanness level 10 000) with laminar flow box.
• Clear dry air distributed in all laboratories.
• Technology equipment for material engineering (furnaces, chemical boxes, …).

The IEAP has acquired know-how and developed techniques for the investigation of new types of sensors of ionization radiation using state-of-the-art technology. The systems are devoted to spectroscopy or to current signal analysis of studied detectors. The signals are induced by alpha, beta or gamma radiation or also by short laser pulses. In spectroscopy, signals are read by standard readout devices consisting of charge sensitive preamplifier, linear amplifier with semi-gaussian shaping and analog-to-digital converter. For charge sharing studies, two standard spectroscopy systems are connected in coincidence. For current signal analysis, signals are read by a fast current preamplifier (1 GHz wide-band) connected to a fast digital oscilloscope (1 GHz band-width, 10 GS/s).

The IEAP is certified for qualification electronic tests of the ATLAS SCT silicon micro-strip detection modules. Up to this date, more than 200 modules have been successfully tested. Furthermore, detection tests (called also laser tests) of these modules were also carried out. Such tests were performed by means of pulsed lasers (with wavelength 660 nm for simulation of alpha radiation and 1060 nm for simulation of minimum ionizing particles) driven by VME modules developed for data acquisition from the ATLAS SCT silicon micro-strip detection modules. For position sensitivity assessment, a PC-driven 3-D micro-manipulator system was constructed.

The IEAP has high potential in applications of position sensitive detectors for material and medical imaging. Examples currently under investigation include two and three dimensional (tomography) imaging of samples from life and lifeless organisms, medical imaging such as mammography, archeological studies (revealing old ceramic letters), and dynamic defectoscopy which are performed with a micro-focus roentgen source Hamamatsu (5 microm spot) and the state-of-the-art MEDIPIX detector together with a newly developed novel readout device and PC-driven micro-holders, all placed inside a X-ray and electromagnetic-shielded case.