Effect of SiPM correlated noise and Photo-Detection Efficiency into charge resolution (original) (raw)
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Towards SiPM camera for current and future generations of Cherenkov telescopes
2014
So far the current ground-based Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) have energy thresholds in the best case in the range of 30 to 50 GeV (H.E.S.S. II and MAGIC telescopes). Lowest energy gamma-ray showers produce low light intensity images and cannot be efficiently separated from dominating images from hadronic background. A cost effective way of improving the telescope performance at lower energies is to use novel photosensors with superior photon detection efficiency (PDE). Currently the best commercially available superbialkali photomultipliers (PMTs) have a PDE of about 30-33%, whereas the silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs, also known as MPPC, GAPD) from some manufacturers show a photon detection efficiency of about 40-45%. Using these devices can lower the energy threshold of the instrument and may improve the background rejection due to intrinsic properties of SiPMs such as a superb single photoelectron resolution. Compared to PMTs, SiPMs are more compact, fast in response, operate at low voltage, and are insensitive to magnetic fields. SiPMs can be operated at high background illumination, which would allow to operate the IACT also during partial moonlight, dusk and dawn, hence increasing the instrument duty cycle. We are testing the SiPMs for Cherenkov telescopes such as MAGIC and CTA. Here we present an overview of our setup and first measurements, which we perform in two independent laboratories, in Munich, Germany and in Barcelona, Spain.
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2009
One of the major drawbacks of a SiPM is due to the so-called cross-talk effect. Often, one single photon in a chain reaction can generate more photons and thus can fire more than one micro-cell of a SiPM. This can be considered as a noise in the signal multiplication process and this degrades the signal/noise ratio. In self-trigger schemes this noise can be so high that it can make operating them difficult at low threshold settings. For the past few years, we have dwelt on this effect aiming to suppress it at the design stage. One can use (a) trenches around the micro-cells for suppressing the direct photon ''communication'' channel and (b) the so-called double p-n junction for suppressing photon-induced charge ''communication'' in neighbor pixels. The low cross-talk is mandatory, for example, for producing SiPM-based light sensor modules for the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique projects for ground-based gamma-ray astrophysics. We produced and tested a few modules consisting of 4 SiPMs, each with a size of 5 mm  5 mm of custom production type. We report here on the main parameters of these units.
2021
Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) have become the baseline choice for cameras of the smallsized telescopes (SSTs) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). On the other hand, SiPMs are relatively new to the field and covering large surfaces and operating at high data rates still are challenges to outperform photomultipliers (PMTs). The higher sensitivity in the near infra-red and longer signals compared to PMTs result in higher night sky background rate for SiPMs. However, the robustness of the SiPMs represents a unique opportunity to ensure long-term operation with low maintenance and better duty cycle than PMTs. The proposed camera for large size telescopes will feature 0.05 • pixels, low power and fast front-end electronics and a fully digital readout. In this work, we present the status of dedicated simulations and data analysis for the performance estimation. The design features and the different strategies identified, so far, to tackle the demanding requirements and the improved performance are described.
SiPM and front-end electronics development for Cherenkov light detection
Proceedings of The 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference — PoS(ICRC2015), 2016
SiPM and front-end electronics development for Cherenkov light detection G. Ambrosi (1) , F. Acerbi (2) , E. Bissaldi * † (3) , A. Ferri (2) , F. Giordano (3,4) , A. Gola (2) , M. Ionica (1) , R. Paoletti (5,6) , C. Piemonte (2) , G. Paternoster (2) , D. Simone † (3) , V. Vagelli (1) , G. Zappala (3) , N. Zorzi (3) , for the CTA Consortium ‡
Development of a SiPM Cherenkov camera demonstrator for the CTA observatory telescopes
arXiv: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, 2016
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Consortium is developing the new generation of ground observatories for the detection of ultra-high energy gamma-rays. The Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is participating to the RD\mbox{mm}^2$ area. Single SiPMs produced by FBK have been tested and their performances have been found to be suitable to equip the CTA cameras. Currently, INFN is developing the concept, mechanics and electronics for prototype modules made of 64 NUV-HD SiPMs intended to equip a possible update of the CTA Prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (pSCT) telescope. The performances of NUV-HD SiPMs and the design and tests of multi-SiPM modules are reviewed in this contribution.
Journal of Instrumentation, 2012
Within the FACT project, we construct a new type of camera based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (G-APDs). Compared to photomultipliers, G-APDs are more robust, need a lower operation voltage and have the potential of higher photon-detection efficiency and lower cost, but were never fully tested in the harsh environments of Cherenkov telescopes. The FACT camera consists of 1440 G-APD pixels and readout channels, based on the DRS4 (Domino Ring Sampler) analog pipeline chip and commercial Ethernet components. Preamplifiers, trigger system, digitization, slow control and power converters are integrated into the camera.