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Petr Burian started out on the ancient Didaktik-M computer, and today he develops technologies used at CERN—the world’s most renowned physics research center. What does work on particle detectors entail, how did he get from Pilsen all the way to Geneva, and why should today’s high school graduates choose to study electrical engineering for their future careers? These are just some of the topics we discussed with this scientist from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and the Czech Technical University’s Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics (CTU).

Petr, what does the moment mean to you when a new detector is tested at CERN?
Imagine the control room of the SPS accelerator at CERN. It’s November 2024, and my colleagues and I are sitting there. After months of development, the key moment comes when we switch on the particle beam—“beam... boom, first data!”
At that moment, you feel relieved, you see the results of all that hard work, and you know you are part of something huge. There’s a lingering nervousness, but also a real sense of joy.

And what exactly were you testing at that time?
It was the new Timepix4 detector, which can “see” radiation. It can record not only the position and energy of particles but also the timing of their interaction. And it does all this at an incredible rate—we can detect millions of such events per second.

Let’s go back to the beginning. How did you get from the Didaktik-M to CERN?
That was in 1991, when my father bought me a Didaktik M—a socialist copy of the ZX Spectrum. I’ve been hooked on computers ever since. After elementary school, I went to the SOU Spojů vocational school in Tábor, and then came the choice of a university. I was deciding between Prague and Pilsen, and in the end, I chose the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia. I enjoyed not only programming but also developing devices that process data.

What role did the University of West Bohemia play in shaping your career path?
A huge one. At FEL, I encountered great teachers like Professor Pinker and Associate Professor Poupa, who guided me toward designing digital and embedded systems. After finishing my master’s degree, I stayed on to pursue a Ph.D. and remained at the Faculty as a developer at RICE (Research and Innovation Centre for Electrical Engineering) and as an assistant at the Department of Electronics and Information Technology.

What was the turning point that led you to work on particle detectors?
I met Dr. Pospíšil from CTU, who asked me two questions: whether I knew anything about pixel detectors and whether I spoke English. At the time, I only knew the basics about detectors, but that didn’t deter him. From that moment on, we started working together on the development of pixel detectors. I joined his team at CTU, and we expanded the collaboration between CTU and the University of West Bohemia, focusing on the development of electronics for physics instrumentation.

What’s the most interesting aspect of your work?
The fact that we develop technologies used worldwide. Our detectors are not just at CERN but also at other scientific centers like DESY in Germany, CEA in France, or the University of Glasgow. My colleagues and I always prepare measuring chains and instrumentation according to the user’s needs; it’s not just about one final application. Every experiment is unique and requires various modifications.

You spent some time directly at CERN. What was it like?
Thanks to the Mobility 3.0 program, I spent 8 months there with my family. Back then, I was testing the Timepix2 chip and preparing an acquisition system for it. I worked with the MEDIPIX team (a collaboration of universities developing detectors), and they were incredibly kind. It was a big professional step forward, and I made valuable contacts for my future career. I have very fond memories of that time.

What are your future plans for Timepix4?
Timepix4 offers a data rate of 160 Gbps and a time resolution of around 200 picoseconds. Now we want to continue developing it and soon deploy it in one of the major experiments at CERN or elsewhere. However, the work is still in its early stages; we have various modifications to make for large-area detectors, optimizations for X-ray systems, and so on.

Is it true that devices in your team get women’s names?
Not entirely. Many devices are nameless or have completely unappealing designations. But our acquisition systems for pixel detectors—our main products—are called Katherine. There are various versions like Katherine for Timepix2, Katherine GEN2, etc. And why? Well, guess what my wife’s name is! (laughs)

What would you say to high school students who are now thinking about where to go next?
Two pieces of advice. First—be ambitious. The world belongs to those who are daring—Charles Bukowski put it in a slightly more colorful way. Don’t be afraid of failure and mistakes; they’re a part of life. You’ve got your whole life and plenty more attempts ahead of you. Second—keep developing your expertise while you have time to study, while you’re young and without commitments. Focus on theory and fundamental knowledge. That’s what leads to new ideas and solutions. When choosing a university, consider the institution’s research and scientific achievements as well. I’d love to meet some of you in a few years at a measurement session at CERN. But regardless, any education will pay off in the future if you invest your energy in it.

Ing. Petr Burian, Ph.D. - Scientist and Developer

Petr Burian works at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and at the Czech Technical University’s Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics (CTU), specializing in the development of digital and embedded systems. His work centers on physics instrumentation—particularly for pixel particle detectors—which is then used at many research facilities.

He has completed a research stay at CERN, where he tested new generations of Timepix-class pixel detectors. These devices can “see” radiation and process huge amounts of data in real time. Besides CERN, his technology can also be found in other leading research centers across Europe.

Are you passionate about technology and new challenges? Come to the University of West Bohemia’s Open Day and find out how you can become part of global projects. We look forward to seeing you in Pilsen on January 28!