Evaluation of Time Resolution and Comparison of Modern Silicon Photomultipliers

Abstract

The timing performance of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) is of great interest for a variety of different detection systems. Numerous studies have attempted to optimize and characterize the timing resolution of various SiPMs, usually incorporating significant front-end electronics to maximize this quantity, showing timing capability with SiPMs on the order of 100 ps. With the growth in popularity of SiPMs, many options exist on the market. This work aims to assess and compare the different SiPMs available with minimal analog signal processing to test the coincidence time resolution achievable with straightforward setup, and to see which SiPMs and which SiPM characteristics (i.e. microcell size) intrinsically lend themselves to superior time resolution. Both LYSO and p-terphenyl scintillators are used, and coincidence time resolution is assessed at multiple temperatures. With SiPMs, the p-terphenyl yields superior time resolution down to 222 ps, compared to 348 ps with LYSO. Little evidence for improvement of timing with reduced temperature down to -10 °C is observed. Two fast Hamamatsu H10580 photomultiplier tubes are also used to compare the time resolution with and are found to have even better time resolution, below 100 ps.