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9 pages, 7344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AGILE: Development of a Compact, Low-Power, Low-Cost, and On-Board Detector for Ion Identification and Energy Measurement

by Florian Gautier

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010016 - 8 Mar 2022

Viewed by 2639

Abstract

An AGILE (Advanced enerGetic Ion eLectron tElescope) instrument is being developed at the University of Kansas and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to be launched on board a CubeSat in 2022. The AGILE instrument aims to identify a large variety of ions (H-Fe) [...] Read more.

An AGILE (Advanced enerGetic Ion eLectron tElescope) instrument is being developed at the University of Kansas and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to be launched on board a CubeSat in 2022. The AGILE instrument aims to identify a large variety of ions (H-Fe) in a wide energy range (1–100 MeV/nucl) in real-time using fast silicon detectors and fast read-out electronics. This can be achieved by the first use of real-time Pulse Shape Discrimination in space instrumentation. This method of discrimination relies on specific amplitude and time characteristics of the signals sampled every 100 ps and produced by ions that stop in the detector medium. AGILE will be able to observe, in situ, the fluxes of a large variety of particles in a wide energy range to advance our knowledge of the fundamental processes in the universe. This work presents the current stage of development of the instrument, the discrimination method used through the performed simulations, and the first results from lab tests using an Am-241 source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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14 pages, 5911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of SiPM-Based Fast Time-of-Flight Detector for the AMS-100 Experiment in Space

by Chanhoon Chung, Theresa Backes, Clemens Dittmar, Waclaw Karpinski, Thomas Kirn, Daniel Louis, Georg Schwering, Michael Wlochal and Stefan Schael

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010014 - 13 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3525

Abstract

AMS-100 is the next-generation high-energy cosmic-ray experiment in Space. It is designed as a magnetic spectrometer with a geometrical acceptance of 100 m² · sr to be operated for ten years at the Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 2. Its Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector is [...] Read more.

AMS-100 is the next-generation high-energy cosmic-ray experiment in Space. It is designed as a magnetic spectrometer with a geometrical acceptance of 100 m² · sr to be operated for ten years at the Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 2. Its Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector is a crucial sub-detector for the main trigger and the particle identification constructed from individual scintillation counters. A fast time measurement with a resolution of 20 ps for a single counter is required to cover wide energy ranges for particle identification. A prototype counter has been designed based on a fast plastic scintillator tile readout by two silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). An amplifier board was built to merge 16 SiPM channels into four readout channels in a hybrid connection. The signals are read out by a fast waveform digitizer. The timing performance was studied with electrons from a ⁹⁰Sr source. A time resolution of 40 ps for a single counter has been achieved. Various operational and environmental conditions have been studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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12 pages, 8658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of the FASTPIX Sub-Nanosecond CMOS Pixel Sensor Demonstrator

by Justus Braach, Eric Buschmann, Dominik Dannheim, Katharina Dort, Thanushan Kugathasan, Magdalena Munker, Walter Snoeys and Mateus Vicente

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010013 - 8 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3157

Abstract

Within the ATTRACT FASTPIX project, a monolithic pixel sensor demonstrator chip has been developed in a modified 180

n

m

CMOS imaging process, targeting sub-nanosecond timing measurements for single ionizing particles. It features a small collection electrode design on a 25 micron thick [...] Read more.

Within the ATTRACT FASTPIX project, a monolithic pixel sensor demonstrator chip has been developed in a modified 180

n

m

CMOS imaging process, targeting sub-nanosecond timing measurements for single ionizing particles. It features a small collection electrode design on a 25 micron thick epitaxial layer and contains 32 mini matrices of 68 hexagonal pixels each, with pixel pitches ranging from 8.66 to 20 micron. Four pixels are transmitting an analog output signal and 64 are transmitting binary hit information. Various design variations are explored, aiming at accelerating the charge collection and making the timing of the charge collection more uniform over the pixel area. Signal treatment of the analog waveforms, as well as reconstruction of time and charge information, is carried out off-chip. This contribution introduces the design of the sensor and readout system and presents the first performance results for 10

μ m

and 20

μ m

pixel pitch achieved in measurements with particle beams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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9 pages, 10715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time Resolution of an Irradiated 3D Silicon Pixel Detector

by Christopher Betancourt, Dario De Simone, Gregor Kramberger, Maria Manna, Giulio Pellegrini and Nicola Serra

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010012 - 5 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

We report on the measurements of time resolution for double-sided 3D pixel sensors with a single cell of 50

μ

m

\times

50

μ

m and thickness of 285

μ

m, fabricated at IMB-CNM and irradiated with reactor neutrons from 8 [...] Read more.

We report on the measurements of time resolution for double-sided 3D pixel sensors with a single cell of 50

μ

m

\times

50

μ

m and thickness of 285

μ

m, fabricated at IMB-CNM and irradiated with reactor neutrons from 8

\times 10^{14}

1MeV

n_{e q}

/cm

^{2}

to 1.0

\times 10^{16}

1MeV

n_{e q}

/cm

^{2}

. The time resolution measurements were conducted using a radioactive source at a temperature of −20 and 20 °C in a bias voltage range of 50–250 V. The reference time was provided by a low gain avalanche detector produced by Hamamatsu. The results are compared to measurements conducted prior to irradiation where a temporal resolution of about 50 ps was measured. These are the first ever timing measurements on an irradiated 3D sensor and which serve as a basis for understanding their performance and to explore the possibility of performing 4D tracking in high radiation environments, such as the innermost tracking layers of future high energy physics experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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11 pages, 2248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of an MCP-Based Timing Layer for the LHCb ECAL Upgrade-2

by Stefano Perazzini, Fabio Ferrari, Vincenzo Maria Vagnoni and on behalf of the LHCb ECAL Upgrade-2 R&D Group

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010007 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2862

Abstract

The increase in instantaneous luminosity during the high-luminosity phase of the LHC represents a significant challenge for future detectors. A strategy to cope with high-pileup conditions is to add a fourth dimension to the measurements of the hits, by exploiting the time separation [...] Read more.

The increase in instantaneous luminosity during the high-luminosity phase of the LHC represents a significant challenge for future detectors. A strategy to cope with high-pileup conditions is to add a fourth dimension to the measurements of the hits, by exploiting the time separation of the various proton–proton primary collisions. According to LHCb simulation studies, resolutions of about 10–20 picoseconds, at least an order of magnitude shorter than the average time span between primary interactions, would be greatly beneficial for the physics reach of the experiment. Microchannel plate (MCP) photomultipliers are compact devices capable of measuring the arrival time of charged particles with the required resolution. The technology of large-area picosecond photodetectors (LAPPDs) is under investigation to implement a timing layer that can be placed within a sampling calorimeter module with the purpose of measuring the arrival time of electromagnetic showers. LAPPD performances, using a Gen-I tile with a delay-line anode and a Gen-II with a capacitively coupled anode, have been measured thoroughly both with laser (wavelength of 405 nm and pulse width of 27.5 ps FWHM) and high-energy electron (1–5.8 GeV) beams. Time resolutions of the order of 30 ps for single photoelectrons and 15 ps for electromagnetic showers initiated by 5-GeV electrons, as measured at the shower maximum, are obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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20 pages, 6826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Irradiated Boron, Carbon-Enriched and Gallium Si-on-Si Wafer Low Gain Avalanche Detectors

by Lucía Castillo García, Evangelos Leonidas Gkougkousis, Chiara Grieco and Sebastian Grinstein

Instruments 2022, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments6010002 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2691

Abstract

Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are n-on-p silicon sensors with an extra doped p-layer below the n-p junction which provides signal amplification. The moderate gain of these sensors, together with the relatively thin active region, provides excellent timing performance for Minimum Ionizing Particles [...] Read more.

Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are n-on-p silicon sensors with an extra doped p-layer below the n-p junction which provides signal amplification. The moderate gain of these sensors, together with the relatively thin active region, provides excellent timing performance for Minimum Ionizing Particles (MIPs). To mitigate the effect of pile-up during the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) era, both ATLAS and CMS experiments will install new detectors, the High-Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) and the End-Cap Timing Layer (ETL), that rely on the LGAD technology. A full characterization of LGAD sensors fabricated by Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM), before and after neutron irradiation up to 10

^{15}

n

_{e q}

/cm

^{2}

, is presented. Sensors produced in 100

m

m

Si-on-Si wafers and doped with boron and gallium, and also enriched with carbon, are studied. The results include their electrical characterization (I-V, C-V), bias voltage stability and performance studies with the Transient Current Technique (TCT) and a Sr-90 radioactive source setup. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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9 pages, 1695 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An LGAD-Based Full Active Target for the PIONEER Experiment

by Simone Michele Mazza

Instruments 2021, 5(4), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5040040 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3137

Abstract

PIONEER is a next-generation experiment to measure the charged pion branching ratios to electrons vs. muons

R_{e} / μ = \frac{Γ (π^{+} \to e^{+} ν (γ))}{Γ (π^{+} \to μ^{+} ν (γ))}

and pion [...] Read more.

PIONEER is a next-generation experiment to measure the charged pion branching ratios to electrons vs. muons

R_{e} / μ = \frac{Γ (π^{+} \to e^{+} ν (γ))}{Γ (π^{+} \to μ^{+} ν (γ))}

and pion beta decay (Pib)

π^{+} \to π^{0} e ν

. The pion to muon decay (

π \to μ \to e

) has four orders of magnitude higher probability than the pion to electron decay (

π \to e ν

). To achieve the necessary branching-ratio precision it is crucial to suppress the

π \to μ \to e

energy spectrum that overlaps with the low energy tail of

π \to e ν

. A high granularity active target (ATAR) is being designed to suppress the muon decay background sufficiently so that this tail can be directly measured. In addition, ATAR will provide detailed 4D tracking information to separate the energy deposits of the pion decay products in both position and time. This will suppress other significant systematic uncertainties (pulse pile-up, decay in flight of slow pions) to <0.01%, allowing the overall uncertainty in to be reduced to O (0.01%). The chosen technology for the ATAR is Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD). These are thin silicon detectors (down to 50

μ

m in thickness or less) with moderate internal signal amplification and great time resolution. To achieve a 100% active region several emerging technologies are being evaluated, such as AC-LGADs and TI-LGADs. A dynamic range from MiP (positron) to several MeV (pion/muon) of deposited charge is expected, the detection and separation of close-by hits in such a wide dynamic range will be a main challenge. Furthermore, the compactness and the requirement of low inactive material of the ATAR present challenges for the readout system, forcing the amplifier chip and digitizer to be positioned away from the active region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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11 pages, 28997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication and First Full Characterisation of Timing Properties of 3D Diamond Detectors

by Lucio Anderlini, Marco Bellini, Chiara Corsi, Stefano Lagomarsino, Chiara Lucarelli, Giovanni Passaleva, Silvio Sciortino and Michele Veltri

Instruments 2021, 5(4), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5040039 - 19 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2605

Abstract

Tracking detectors at future high luminosity hadron colliders are expected to be able to stand unprecedented levels of radiation as well as to efficiently reconstruct a huge number of tracks and primary vertices. To face the challenges posed by the radiation damage, new [...] Read more.

Tracking detectors at future high luminosity hadron colliders are expected to be able to stand unprecedented levels of radiation as well as to efficiently reconstruct a huge number of tracks and primary vertices. To face the challenges posed by the radiation damage, new extremely radiation hard materials and sensor designs will be needed, while the track and vertex reconstruction problem can be significantly mitigated by the introduction of detectors with excellent timing capabilities. Indeed, the time coordinate provides extremely powerful information to disentangle overlapping tracks and hits in the harsh hadronic collision environment. Diamond 3D pixel sensors optimised for timing applications provide an appealing solution to the above problems as the 3D geometry enhances the already outstanding radiation hardness and allows to exploit the excellent timing properties of diamond. We report here the first full timing characterisation of 3D diamond sensors fabricated by electrode laser graphitisation in Florence. Results from a 270

Me V

pion beam test of a first prototype and from tests with a β source on a recently fabricated

55 \times 55 {μ m}^{2}

pitch sensor are discussed. First results on sensor simulation are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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17 pages, 728 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Advantages and Requirements in Time Resolving Tracking for Astroparticle Experiments in Space

by Matteo Duranti, Valerio Vagelli, Giovanni Ambrosi, Mattia Barbanera, Bruna Bertucci, Enrico Catanzani, Federico Donnini, Francesco Faldi, Valerio Formato, Maura Graziani, Maria Ionica, Lucio Moriconi, Alberto Oliva, Andrea Serpolla, Gianluigi Silvestre and Luca Tosti

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020020 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4899

Abstract

A large-area, solid-state detector with single-hit precision timing measurement will enable several breakthrough experimental advances for the direct measurement of particles in space. Silicon microstrip detectors are the most promising candidate technology to instrument the large areas of the next-generation astroparticle space borne [...] Read more.

A large-area, solid-state detector with single-hit precision timing measurement will enable several breakthrough experimental advances for the direct measurement of particles in space. Silicon microstrip detectors are the most promising candidate technology to instrument the large areas of the next-generation astroparticle space borne detectors that could meet the limitations on power consumption required by operations in space. We overview the novel experimental opportunities that could be enabled by the introduction of the timing measurement, concurrent with the accurate spatial and charge measurement, in Silicon microstrip tracking detectors, and we discuss the technological solutions and their readiness to enable the operations of large-area Silicon microstrip timing detectors in space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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Jump to: Research

6 pages, 9154 KiB

Open AccessProject Report

Fast Timing Detectors and Applications in Cosmic Ray Physics and Medical Science

by Christophe Royon, William d’Assignies D., Florian Gautier, Tommaso Isidori, Nicola Minafra and Alexander Novikov

Instruments 2023, 7(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments7020014 - 23 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1642

Abstract

We use fast silicon detectors and the fast sampling method originally developed for high energy physics for two applications: cosmic ray measurements in collaboration with NASA and dose measurements during flash beam cancer treatment. The cosmic ray measurement will benefit from the fast [...] Read more.

We use fast silicon detectors and the fast sampling method originally developed for high energy physics for two applications: cosmic ray measurements in collaboration with NASA and dose measurements during flash beam cancer treatment. The cosmic ray measurement will benefit from the fast sampling method to measure the Bragg peak where the particle stops in the silicon detector and the dose measurement is performed by counting the number of particles that enter the detector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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