AstroPix: Novel monolithic active pixel silicon sensors for future gamma-ray telescopes

TL;DR

AstroPix introduces monolithic CMOS active pixel silicon sensors designed for future gamma-ray telescopes, offering high performance, low noise, and dual detection capabilities suitable for precise event reconstruction in space-based gamma-ray observations.

Contribution

This work presents the development of AstroPix, a novel monolithic CMOS sensor based on ATLASPix technology, tailored for gamma-ray telescopes to improve detection and reconstruction capabilities.

Findings

AstroPix demonstrates potential for high performance in gamma-ray detection.

The sensor achieves low noise and low power consumption.

Dual detection and readout capabilities enhance event reconstruction.

Abstract

Space-based gamma-ray telescopes such as the Fermi Large Area Telescope have used single sided silicon strip detectors to track secondary charged particles produced by primary gamma-rays with high resolution. At the lower energies targeted by keV-MeV telescopes, two dimensional position information within a single detector is required for event reconstruction - especially in the Compton regime. This work describes the development of monolithic CMOS active pixel silicon sensors - AstroPix - as a novel technology for use in future gamma-ray telescopes. Based upon sensors (ATLASPix) designed for use in the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, AstroPix has the potential to maintain high performance while reducing noise with low power consumption. This is achieved with the dual detection and readout capabilities in each CMOS pixel. The status of AstroPix development and testing, as well as outlook for future testing and application, will be presented.