PID-Based Temperature Stabilization for Silicon Photomultipliers Using Thermoelectric Cooling Devices

Abstract

In this paper, we present a temperature stabilization system for Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) using thermoelectric cooling devices controlled by a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller. Maintaining a stable temperature for SiPMs and their associated front-end electronics is crucial for achieving consistent gain and noise minimization. Our system employs three CP1881-222 thermoelectric coolers per module and is managed by two ATMega1284p microcontrollers. One microcontroller handles the PID control routine, while the other functions as a TCP/IP client. The temperature is monitored using PT100 sensors connected via MAX31865 RTD converters, ensuring precise measurements. The PID algorithm efficiently corrects temperature deviations, maintaining an error margin of approximately ±0.2◦C. The system has been successfully deployed in the HASC subdetector of CERN’s NA62 experiment, where it maintains the SiPM temperature at 20.5◦C, enhancing the subdetector’s performance. The modular design of our PID controller system allows for adaptability to various experimental setups requiring precise temperature control.