Minutes of the DESPEC Ge array working group meeting
in Madrid, November 4th 2005

Participants: Alejandro Algora, Dimiter Balabanski, Daniel Cano-Ott,
              Juergen Gerl, Magda Gorska, Andrea Jungclaus, Zsolt Podolyak,
	      Peter Reiter, Berta Rubio, Cath Scholey, Jose Luis Tain 
              
	 
- Zsolt and Berta reported on the NUSTAR management meeting. There are
  still no firm deadlines for the next documents to be delivered, namely
  an updated Technical Report and then the Technical Design Report.
  DESPEC is part of the FAIR core project - which however does not imply
  that it will be funded.
  
- We decided to consider for the moment both options for the geometry of
  the Ge spectrometer, namely the array of stacks of planar Ge as described
  in the TR as well as an array consisting of 6 Clover detectors. The final
  decision has to be taken at the end of 2006.
  
- Concerning the simulations three main tasks have been identified, namely

       - the inclusion of more material ( holders, cryostats, DSSSD etc. )
         in the GEANT4 simulations we have performed so far
	 
       - the study of the tracking capabilities of the arrays ( fixed
         source algorithms ). How can they be used for background
	 suppression ?
	 
       - the study of imaging algorithms to backtrack the origin of the
         gamma-rays. Again how can they be used for background suppression ?
	 
  Stanislav Tachenov ( GSI Postdoc ), Alejandro and Andrea agreed to work
  on this, Pavel Detistov ( PhD student in Sofia ) will join in February 2006.

  Dimiter will contact Carl Svensson to ask for the GEANT4 files of the
  Guelph simulations of TIGRESS.
   
- Juergen reports that he has a new Postdoc ( from November 2005 ) who will
  partly work on the DESPEC Ge array project in the next two years. In
  addition he also has the money to buy three segmented planar Ge crystals.
  A test cryostat will be designed by Ivan and built at GSI and the full
  prototype detector ( stack of three segmented planar ) is expected to be
  available in summer 2006.
  
- For the different parts of the project the following points have been
  discussed:
  
     - simulations:   to be done in 2005/2006    GSI+IFIC+UAM+Sofia
     
     - software ( tracking etc. ):  2006/2007    GSI+IFIC+UAM+Sofia
  
     - prototype:                   2006/2007    GSI+?  
       somebody from the other groups involved should participate in 
       testing the prototype
       
     - preamps: Peter offered the contribution of the Koeln Elektronik-
       werkstatt ( G. Paskovici ) in the development of integrated preamps.
       An overview of possible solutions will be prepared in 2006.
       
     - digital electronics: We agreed that no new development is envisaged
       within the Ge array project. Georgi Rainovski ( Sofia ) will prepare
       an overview of possible solutions, a person from IFIC might get
       involved in this part and the subsequent development of special
       algorithms.
       
     - data aquisition: Andrea will contact Johan Nyberg as member of the
       common working group to find out the status.
       
     - cooling: In both considered geometries there won't be enough space
       for conventional dewars. Andrea will contact the french groups working
       on new cooling techniques within the AGATA project to find out the
       status of their work and the time scale.
       
     - mechanics: design to be done probably in 2008
     
- We discussed a possible money-time matrix of the project which however at
  the end reduced to simply 1.2 Mio Euro per year during 2007-2010 for six
  detector units per year plus 0.1 Mio Euro for the frame to be spent in 
  2008/2009.
  
- The next meeting will take place during the NUSTAR week at GSI in February
  2006.