Quantum Detectors

Quantum Detectors was originally a spin out from the Synchrotron Radiation Source at Daresbury. The SRS being one of the first synchrotrons used for beamline users,^[8] there were few detectors available during its early years, requiring development of new systems for each application where commercial solutions were not available. This led to a number of novel detector systems, some of which were sold by the operator of the SRS to other facilities internationally, such as the ESRF,^[9] SPring-8^[10] and the Photon Factory.^[11] These detectors included Xspress, XSTRIP and RAPID, updated versions of which can all be found at the Diamond Light Source today.

Given the history of the Detector Group at Daresbury to develop detectors with a demand around the globe, spinning out a company to optimise this process was a logical step. The company was thought up independently a number of times by people in the management at Daresbury, but finally in 2005 the company was incorporated and domain name purchased and in 2007 the project was funded, in mid 2008 it gained the first employee.

Diamond opened in January 2007 and the SRS closed in August 2008, leading to the relocation of Quantum Detectors to Harwell to stay with the UK's Synchrotron Facility. 10% of Quantum Detectors shares were then purchased by Diamond, who then elected a Director to the Quantum Detectors Board. The remaining 90% of the shares belong to STFC.

• http://www.quantumdetectors.com
• https://web.archive.org/web/20090220205830/http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About/Find/RAL/Introduction.aspx
• http://www.stfcinnovations.co.uk/Spinouts/17902.aspx Archived 2011-11-28 at the Wayback Machine