C2D8: An eight channel CCD readout electronics dedicated to low energy neutron detection

TL;DR

This paper introduces a specialized eight-channel CCD readout electronics system designed for low-energy neutron detection, enabling precise, real-time measurements crucial for quantum state research in fundamental physics.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel electronic board capable of simultaneously reading out eight CCDs under vacuum, tailored for low-energy neutron detection applications.

Findings

Successful design and implementation of the eight-channel readout electronics.

Demonstrated capability to operate under vacuum conditions.

Enhanced spatial resolution for neutron detection.

Abstract

Position-sensitive detectors for cold and ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) are in use in fundamental research. In particular, measuring the properties of the quantum states of bouncing neutrons requires micro-metric spatial resolution. To this end, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) coated with a thin conversion layer that allows a real time detection of neutron hits is under development at LPSC. In this paper, we present the design and performance of a dedicated electronic board designed to read-out eight CCDs simultaneously and operating under vacuum.