Dear Bernhard,

	Since I confirmed my interest in a Joint Research Activity (JRA)
on Micropattern Gas Detectors for the new EU Horizon 2020 and you
explained me your role in that project, let me come now to the questions:

- what you propose to do in the framework of this JRA,
- the experience you have to realize this idea,
- the resources you have at your disposal for its realization.

posed in your letter of Jan. 20, 2014. 

	Let me first stress that my home Institution, the National Centre
for Nuclear Research (NCBJ-Warsaw) is a perspective contributor of
334 kEUR [in 2014 prices], forseen to cover the cost of GEM foils
[a working set, and a spare set] for the three GEM-stations of the PANDA
Planar GEM Tracker. TECHTRA is forseen as a producer of these foils. This
represents, according to the current PANDA Money Matrix, 24% of the
estimated price of the GEM Tracker. Due to limited funds available for
experiments from our Funding Agency, that was all we could afford
ourselves for that project.

- what we propose to do in the framework of this JRA?

	In the framework of this JRA we propose to continue an in-depth
study of properties of a GEM-detector by performing computer simulations
using the GARFIELD/ANSYS program. The simulations of static GEM properties
hitherto performed, gave a valuable information for an optimum anode-plane
design, already utilized by the GSI detector laboratory. Our current 
engagement, to be continued into the HPH Framework Programme will address
GEM behaviour at high counting rates which is essential for this forward
detector in PANDA.

	Moreover, we forsee participation in the in-beam tests of the
prototype GEM-detector which are necessary to demonstrate its properties
for the GEM-Tracker Technical Design Report (TDR). This activity will
include data reduction at NCBJ using the local and external computing
facilities. Rate-dependend effects will be evaluated and compared with the
GARFIELD/ANSYS simulations. 

- the experience you have to realize this ideas,

	The main workhorse of the above activities will be Dr. Dmytro
(Dima) Melnychuk. He is a member of the PANDA computing team since quite
a few years. His previous engagements were in Monte Carlo simulations for
the PANDA Electromagnetic Calorimeter. By performing this task he become
an expert in time-dependent simulations, which will find now application
in the field of Micropattern Gas Detectors. He posesses also experience 
in detector technology acquired in the PWO detector tests at intermediate
and low photon energies.

- the resources you have at your disposal for its realization

	We intend to apply for 25 kEUR (after cuts) from this Joint
Research Activity. It is possible that we will hire a PhD student from 
this fund.

	I hope, Bernhard, this fulfils both in the content and in length
your request. Please, in case of neccessity, feel free to ask for 
additional information.

	With best regards -
                            Bogdan Z.

-- BernhardKetzer - 11 Feb 2014