SiPM and front-end electronics development for Cherenkov light detection

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and testing of specialized silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and front-end electronics tailored for Cherenkov light detection in the CTA experiment, focusing on optimizing sensor and electronics performance.

Contribution

It presents the design, production, and testing of new NUV SiPMs with various micro-cell configurations and the development of waveform sampling electronics optimized for these sensors.

Findings

Successful characterization of different NUV SiPMs with various sizes and micro-cell configurations.

Development of front-end electronics optimized for waveform sampling of NUV SiPM signals.

Enhanced understanding of SiPM performance for Cherenkov light detection applications.

Abstract

The Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is involved in the development of a demonstrator for a SiPM-based camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) experiment, with a pixel size of 6$\times$6 mm$^2$. The camera houses about two thousands electronics channels and is both light and compact. In this framework, a R&D program for the development of SiPMs suitable for Cherenkov light detection (so called NUV SiPMs) is ongoing. Different photosensors have been produced at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), with different micro-cell dimensions and fill factors, in different geometrical arrangements. At the same time, INFN is developing front-end electronics based on the waveform sampling technique optimized for the new NUV SiPM. Measurements on 1$\times$1 mm$^2$, 3$\times$3 mm$^2$, and 6$\times$6 mm$^2$ NUV SiPMs coupled to the front-end electronics are presented