Development of a SiPM Cherenkov camera demonstrator for the CTA observatory telescopes

TL;DR

This paper reports on the development and testing of a SiPM-based Cherenkov camera demonstrator for CTA telescopes, highlighting the suitability of NUV-HD SiPM technology for ultra-high energy gamma-ray detection.

Contribution

It introduces a new SiPM-based camera module for CTA, demonstrating its design, mechanics, electronics, and performance suitability for telescope upgrades.

Findings

NUV-HD SiPMs show suitable performance for Cherenkov detection.

Prototype modules with 64 SiPMs have been developed and tested.

The design is intended for potential CTA telescope upgrades.

Abstract

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 R&D of a possible solution for the Cherenkov photon cameras based on Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors sensitive to Near Ultraviolet (NUV) energies. The latest NUV-HD SiPM technology achieved by the collaboration of INFN with Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) is based on $30\mu\mbox{m}\times30\mu\mbox{m}$ micro-cell sensors arranged in a $6\times6\;\mbox{mm}^2$ 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.