PICOSEC Micromegas Precise-timing Detectors: Development towards Large-Area and Integration

TL;DR

This paper reports on the development of large-area PICOSEC Micromegas detectors with sub-25 ps time resolution, including prototypes up to 20x20 cm², and the integration of specialized electronics for future particle physics applications.

Contribution

It introduces scalable large-area PICOSEC MM prototypes and customized electronics, demonstrating their high timing performance and potential for large-scale deployment.

Findings

Achieved ~25 ps time resolution in large-area prototypes

Successfully jointed four photocathodes for bigger detectors

Demonstrated system integration during test beam experiments

Abstract

PICOSEC Micromegas (MM) is a precise timing gaseous detector based on a Cherenkov radiator coupled with a semi-transparent photocathode and an MM amplifying structure. The detector conceprt was successfully demonstrated through a single-channel prototype, achieving sub-25 ps time resolution with Minimum Ionizing Particles (MIPs). A series of studies followed, aimed at developing robust, large-area, and scalable detectors with high time resolution, complemented by specialized fast-response readout electronics. This work presents recent advancements towards large-area resistive PICOSEC MM, including 10 $\times$ 10 $\text{cm}^2$ area prototypes and a 20 $\times$ 20 $\text{cm}^2$ prototype, which features the jointing of four photocathodes. The time resolution of these detector prototypes was tested during the test beam, achieved a timing performance of around 25 ps for individual pads in MIPs. Meanwhile, customized electronics have been developed dedicated to the high-precision time measurement of the large-area PICOSEC MM. The performance of the entire system was evaluated during the test beam, demonstrating its capability for large-area integration. These advancements highlight the potential of PICOSEC MM to meet the stringent requirements of future particle physics experiments.