Study experimental time resolution limits of recent ASICs at Weeroc with different SiPMs and scintillators

TL;DR

This paper experimentally evaluates the time resolution limits of recent ASICs used in medical and space applications, coupled with various SiPMs and scintillators, achieving sub-100 ps timing resolutions.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of time resolution limits of recent ASICs with different SiPMs and scintillators in practical configurations.

Findings

Achieved 90 ps FWHM SPTR with FBK NUV-HD SiPMs using Liroc.

Achieved 73 ps FWHM SPTR with Radioroc and NUV-HD SiPMs.

Radioroc achieved 83 ps CTR with optimized SiPM and crystal pairing.

Abstract

Medical applications, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and space applications, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), are in need of highly specialized ASICs. Weeroc, in collaboration with different partners, is highly involved in developing a new generation of front-end ASICs. In the context of a joined LIDAR project among Weeroc, CNES, and Airbus, Weeroc is working on the development of Liroc, an ASIC for space LIDAR application. Weeroc is also working on advancing ASICs for medical applications with Radioroc under development and intended to be used for PET applications. This study experimentally evaluates the time resolution limits of these ASICs in different configurations, with some of the most recent silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technologies available on the market, coupled to different scintillation crystals. The best single-photon time resolution (SPTR) was achieved using FBK NUV-HD SiPMs with an FWHM of 90 ps with Liroc and 73 ps with Radioroc. Furthermore, the coincidence time resolution (CTR) of Radioroc was studied with different crystal sizes. Using a large LYSO:Ce,Ca crystal of (3 x 3 x 20 mm3) with Broadcom Near UltraViolet-Metal in Trench (NUV-MT) yields a CTR of 127 ps (FWHM). The best CTR of Radioroc was determined to 83 ps (FWHM) with Broadcom NUV-MT SiPMs coupled to LYSO:Ce,Ca (2 x 2 x 3 mm3) from Taiwan Applied Crystal (TAC).