Cryogenic operation of silicon photomultiplier arrays

TL;DR

This study investigates the performance of cryogenically cooled silicon photomultiplier arrays designed for high-radiation environments in particle physics experiments, focusing on their key parameters at temperatures down to 100 K.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of SiPM arrays at cryogenic temperatures, addressing radiation damage mitigation for future high-energy physics detectors.

Findings

SiPM breakdown voltage decreases at lower temperatures.

Dark count rate significantly reduces at cryogenic temperatures.

Photon detection efficiency remains stable or improves at low temperatures.

Abstract

The LHCb experiment at CERN has been upgraded for the Run 3 operation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). A new concept of tracking detector based on Scintillating Fibres (SciFi) read out with multichannel silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) was installed during its upgrade. One of the main challenges the SciFi tracker will face during the Run 4 operation of the LHC is the higher radiation environment due to fast neutrons, where the SiPMs are located. To cope with the increase in radiation, cryogenic cooling with liquid nitrogen is being investigated as a possible solution to mitigate the performance degradation of the SiPMs induced by radiation damage. Thus, a detailed performance study of different layouts of SiPM arrays produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. is being carried out. These SiPMs have been designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Several SiPMs have been tested in a dedicated cryogenic setup down to 100 K. Key performance parameters such as breakdown voltage, dark count rate, photon detection efficiency, gain and direct cross-talk are characterized as a function of the temperature. The main results of this study are going to be presented here.