The Tangerine project: Development of high-resolution 65 nm silicon MAPS

TL;DR

The Tangerine project develops high-resolution, low-power monolithic silicon pixel sensors using 65 nm CMOS technology, demonstrating their potential for advanced particle physics detectors and test beam applications.

Contribution

It is the first application of 65 nm CMOS imaging process in particle physics, enabling high-density, low-power, and material-efficient silicon detectors.

Findings

Successful design and testing of a prototype sensor

High spatial and time resolution demonstrated in test beams

Effective simulation and characterization methods established

Abstract

The Tangerine project aims to develop new state-of-the-art high-precision silicon detectors. Part of the project has the goal of developing a monolithic active pixel sensor using a novel 65 nm CMOS imaging process, with a small collection electrode. This is the first application of this process in particle physics, and it is of great interest as it allows for an increased logic density and reduced power consumption and material budget compared to other processes. The process is envisioned to be used in for example the next ALICE inner tracker upgrade, and in experiments at the electron-ion collider. The initial goal of the three-year Tangerine project is to develop and test a sensor in a 65 nm CMOS imaging process that can be used in test beam telescopes at DESY, providing excellent spatial resolution and high time resolution, and thus demonstrating the capabilities of the process. The project covers all aspects of sensor R&D, from electronics and sensor design using simulations, to prototype test chip characterisation in labs and at test beams. The sensor design simulations are performed by using a powerful combination of detailed electric field simulations using technology computer-aided design and high-statistics Monte Carlo simulations using the Allpix Squared framework. A first prototype test chip in the process has been designed and produced, and successfully operated and tested both in labs and at test beams.