A High-resolution Scintillating Fiber Tracker With Silicon Photomultiplier Array Readout

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high-resolution scintillating fiber tracker with silicon photomultiplier readout, demonstrating excellent spatial resolution and efficiency in test beam experiments, with potential for further improvements.

Contribution

It presents a novel prototype module design for a fiber tracker using silicon photomultipliers, with detailed production, testing, and performance analysis.

Findings

Spatial resolution of 0.05 mm achieved

Light yield exceeds 20 photons per particle

Tracking efficiency over 98.5%

Abstract

We present prototype modules for a tracking detector consisting of multiple layers of 0.25 mm diameter scintillating fibers that are read out by linear arrays of silicon photomultipliers. The module production process is described and measurements of the key properties for both the fibers and the readout devices are shown. Five modules have been subjected to a 12 GeV/c proton/pion testbeam at CERN. A spatial resolution of 0.05 mm and light yields exceeding 20 detected photons per minimum ionizing particle have been achieved, at a tracking efficiency of more than 98.5%. Possible techniques for further improvement of the spatial resolution are discussed.