An ASIC front-end for fluorescence and Cherenkov light detection with SiPM for space and ground applications

Abstract

Astroparticle and High Energy Astrophysics space missions measuring extensive air showers produced by cosmic rays and neutrinos in atmosphere require detection of very faint and intense ultraviolet and visible light. Characteristics of the new generation of SiPM (Silicon PhotoMultiplier) are potentially right for this purpose. The capability to operate SiPM contemporarily in photon counting and in charge integration is strictly dependent indeed by the design of the front-end electronics (FEE). In this context, the challenge is to find the right balance and a feasible solution for managing SiPM with a FEE to be able to work, contemporarily and efficiently, in photon counting and charge integration. In this manuscript we present a new ASIC, named RADIOROC, that is an improvement of the CITIROC and that is at the end of its design phase: this chip will be able to work contemporarily in both the named modes. The RADIOROC characteristics and the first simulations carried out on the chip design will be presented.