A Study of the Latest Updates of the Readout System for the Hybird-Pixel Detector at HEPS

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and updates of the readout system for the next-generation hybrid pixel detector at HEPS, focusing on hardware, firmware, and performance improvements for advanced photon detection.

Contribution

It introduces a redesigned readout system with new hardware and firmware tailored for the HEPS-BPIX detector, enhancing performance for high-energy photon detection.

Findings

Successful hardware and firmware integration

Improved detector performance and data handling

Enhanced remote control capabilities

Abstract

The High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) represents a fourth-generation light source. This facility has made unprecedented advancements in accelerator technology, necessitating the development of new detectors to satisfy physical requirements such as single-photon resolution, large dynamic range, and high frame rates. Since 2016, the Institute of High Energy Physics has introduced the first user-experimental hybrid pixel detector, progressing to the fourth-generation million-pixel detector designed for challenging conditions, with the dual-threshold single-photon detector HEPS-Beijing PIXel (HEPS-BPIX) set as the next-generation target. HEPS-BPIX will employ the entirely new Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) BP40 for pixel information readout. Data flow will be managed and controlled through readout electronics based on a two-tier Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) system: the Front-End Electronics (FEE) and the Input-Output Board (IOB) handle the fan-out for 12 ASICs, and the u4FCP is tasked with processing serial data on high-speed links, transferring pixel-level data to the back-end RTM and uTCA chassis, or independently outputting through a network port, enabling remote control of the entire detector. The new HEPS-BPIX firmware has undergone a comprehensive redesign and update to meet the electronic characteristics of the new chip and to improve the overall performance of the detector. We provide an overview of the core subunits of HEPS-BPIX, emphasizing the readout system, evaluating the new hardware and firmware, and highlighting some of its innovative features and characteristics.