An Efficient Test Facility For The Cherenkov Telescope Array FlashCam Readout Electronics Production

TL;DR

This paper presents a test facility and routines developed for efficiently testing the Readout System components of the FlashCam camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array, facilitating mass production and quality assurance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel test setup and procedures specifically designed for the mass testing of ROS components in CTA FlashCam cameras.

Findings

Successful testing of a significant fraction of ROS components in 2016

Development of a test setup with specific interfaces and routines

First results demonstrating the effectiveness of the test facility

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the planned next-generation instrument for ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, currently under preparation by a world-wide consortium. The FlashCam group is preparing a photomultiplier-based camera for the Medium Size Telescopes of CTA, with a fully digital Readout System (ROS). For the forthcoming mass production of a substantial number of cameras, efficient test routines for all components are currently under development. We report here on a test facility for the ROS components. A test setup and routines have been developed and an early version of that setup has successfully been used to test a significant fraction of the ROS for the FlashCam camera prototype in January 2016. The test setup with its components and interface, as well as first results, are presented here.