Strip Readout Research Articles

Performance of [formula omitted]-RWELL detector vs resistivity of the resistive stage

The μ-RWELL is a compact spark-protected single amplification stage Micro-Pattern-Gaseous-Detector (MPGD). The detector amplification stage is realized with a polyimide structure, micro-patterned with a dense matrix of blind-holes, integrated into the readout structure. The anode is formed by a thin Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) resistive layer separated by an insulating glue layer from the readout strips. The introduction of the resistive layer strongly suppressing the transition from streamer to spark gives the possibility to achieve large gains (> 104), without significantly affecting the capability to be efficiently operated in high particle fluxes. In this work we present the results of a systematic study of the μ-RWELL performance as a function of the DLC resistivity. The tests have been performed either with collimated 5.9 keV X-rays or with pion and muon beams at the SPS Secondary Beamline H4 and H8 at CERN.

Gain characteristics of a 100 μm thick GEM in Krypton-CO2 mixtures

The operation of a Micropattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) comprising a cascade of two non-standard Gas Electron Multipliers (GEM) made from a 100 μm kapton foil was evaluated in pure krypton and in krypton-CO2 mixtures. The final avalanche charge was collected in a 2D strip readout, providing an active area of 10×10 cm2 for the entire detection system. For each mixture, the effective gain and energy resolution were measured as a function of the electric field in the drift, transfer and induction regions. Using X-rays from a 55Fe radioactive source (5.9 keV), gains close to 104 and energy resolution of 22% (FWHM) were achieved in pure krypton under stable conditions, showing the potential of the experimental setup for the following imaging studies.

On the localization properties of an RPWELL gas-avalanche detector

A study of the localization properties of a single-element Resistive Plate WELL (RPWELL) detector is presented. The detector comprises of a single-sided THick Gaseous Electron Multiplier (THGEM) coupled to a segmented readout anode through a doped silicate-glass plate of 1010 Ω⋅cm bulk resistivity. Operated in ambient \ ech gas, the detector has been investigated with 150 GeV muons at CERN-SPS. Signals induced through the resistive plate on anode readout strips were recorded with APV25/SRS electronics. The experimental results are compared with that of Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of various physics phenomena on the position resolution are discussed. The measured position resolution in the present configuration is 0.28 mm RMS—compatible with the holes-pattern of the multiplier. Possible ways for improving the detector position resolution are suggested.

Reconstruction of Micropattern Detector Signals using Convolutional Neural Networks

Micropattern gaseous detector (MPGD) technologies, such as GEMs or MicroMegas, are particularly suitable for precision tracking and triggering in high rate environments. Given their relatively low production costs, MPGDs are an exemplary candidate for the next generation of particle detectors. Having acknowledged these advantages, both the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at the LHC are exploiting these new technologies for their detector upgrade programs in the coming years. When MPGDs are utilized for triggering purposes, the measured signals need to be precisely reconstructed within less than 200 ns, which can be achieved by the usage of FPGAs.In this work, we present a novel approach to identify reconstructed signals, their timing and the corresponding spatial position on the detector. In particular, we study the effect of noise and dead readout strips on the reconstruction performance. Our approach leverages the potential of convolutional neural network (CNNs), which have recently manifested an outstanding performance in a range of modeling tasks. The proposed neural network architecture of our CNN is designed simply enough, so that it can be modeled directly by an FPGA and thus provide precise information on reconstructed signals already in trigger level.

Two-dimensional imaging triple-GEM detector with resistive anode readout

The resistive anode readout facilitates a good spatial resolution with a large reduction of the electronics channels. The application of such readout method on a 100×100 mm2 triple-GEM detector is presented. The detector anode covers 88×88 mm2 sensitive area and consists of 11×11 resistive cells with the cell dimension of 8×8 mm2. The detector has been tested by using a 55Fe source (5.9 keV) and an X-ray tube (8 keV). It is found that the spatial resolution (σ) is about 120 μ m with the intrinsic detector response better than 100 μ m. The position nonlinearity of the whole sensitive area is better than 3%. The energy resolution for 5.9 keV X rays is around 20% (FWHM) and the gain nonuniformity between different cells is better than 7%. The detector shows a quite good 2D imaging performance as well. Especially, the detector costs only half of the number of the electronics channels compared with that using the 2D strip readout.

WA105: A large demonstrator of a liquid argon dual phase TPC

The Liquid argon technology has been chosen for the DUNE underground experiment for the study of neutrino oscillations, neutrino astrophysics and proton decay. This detector has excellent tracking and calorimetric capabilities much superior to currently operating neutrino detectors. WA105 is a large demonstrator of the dual-phase liquid argon TPC based on the GLACIER design, with a 6×6×6 m3 (appr. 300t) active volume. Its construction and operation test scalable solutions for the crucial aspects of this detector: ultra-high argon purity in non-evacuable tanks, long drifts, very high drift voltages, large area MPGD, cold preamplifiers. The TPC will be built inside a tank based on industrial LNG technology. Electrons produced in the liquid argon are extracted in the gas phase. Here, a readout plane based on Large Electron Multipliers (LEM’s) provides amplification before the charge collection onto an anode plane with strip readout. This highly cost effective solution provides excellent imaging capabilities with equal charge sharing on both views. PMTs located at the bottom of the tank containing the liquid argon provide the readout of the scintillation light. This demonstrator is an industrial prototype of the design proposed for a large underground detector. WA105 is under construction at CERN and will be exposed to a charged particle beam (0.5 - 20 GeV/c) in the North Area in 2018. The data will provide necessary calibration of the detector performances and benchmark sophisticated reconstruction algorithms. This project is a crucial milestone for the long baseline neutrino program DUNE.

Construction and quality assurance of large area resistive strip Micromegas for the upgrade of the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer at LHC/CERN

Large area Micromegas detectors will be employed for the first time in high-energy physics experiments. To cope with increasing background rates, associated with the steadily increasing luminosity of LHC to 10 times design luminosity, the present detector technology in the current innermost stations of the muon endcap system of the ATLAS experiment (the Small Wheel), will be replaced in 2019/2020 by resistive strip Micromegas and small strip TGC detectors. Both technologies will provide tracking and trigger information. In the "New Small Wheel" the Micromegas will be arranged in eight detection layers built of trapezoidally shaped quadruplets of four different sizes covering in total about 1200 m2 of detection plane. In order to achieve 15 % transverse momentum resolution for 1 TeV muons, a challenging mechanical precision is required in the construction of each active plane, with an alignment of the readout strips at the level of 30 μm RMS along the precision coordinate and 80 μm RMS perpendicular to the plane. Each individual Micromegas plane must achieve a spatial resolution better than 100 μm at background rates up to 15 kHz/cm2 while being operated in an inhomogeneous magnetic field (B ⩽ 0.3 T). The required mechanical precision for the production of the components and their assembly, on such large area detectors, is a key point and must be controlled during construction and integration. Particularly the alignment of the readout strips within a quadruplet appears to be demanding. The readout strips are etched on PCB boards using photolithographic processes. Depending on the type of the module, 3 or 5 PCB boards need to be joined and precisely aligned to form a full readout plane. The precision in the alignment is reached either by use of precision mechanical holes or by optical masks, both referenced to the strip patterns. Assembly procedures have been developed to build the single panels with the required mechanical precision and to assemble them in a module including the four metallic micro-meshes. Methods to confirm the precision of components and assembly are based on precise optical devices and X-ray or cosmic muon investigations. We will report on the construction procedures for the Micromegas quadruplets, on the quality control procedures and results, and on the assembly and calibration methods.

Calibration of large area Micromegas detectors using cosmic rays

Currently m2-sized micropattern detectors with spatial resolution better than 100 μm and online trigger capability are of big interest for many experiments. Large size in combination with superb spatial resolution and trigger capability implicates that the construction of these detectors is highly sophisticated and imposes strict mechanical tolerances. We developed a method to survey assembled and working detectors on potential deviations of the micro pattern readout structures from design value as well as deformations of the whole detector, using cosmic muons in a tracking facility. The LMU Cosmic Ray Facility consists of two 8 m2 ATLAS Monitored Drift Tube chambers (MDT) for precision muon reference tracking and two segmented trigger hodoscopes with sub-ns time-resolution and additional 10 cm position information along the wires of the MDTs. It provides information on homogeneity in efficiency and pulse height of one or several micropattern detectors installed in between the MDTs. With an angular acceptance of −30° to +30° the comparison of the reference muon tracking with centroidal position determination or time projection chamber like track reconstruction in the micropattern detector allows for calibration in three dimensions. We present results of a m2-sized one-dimensional resistive strip Micromegas detector consisting of two readout boards with in total 2048 strips, read out by 16 APV25 front-end boards. This 16-fold segmentation along the precision direction in combination with a 10-fold segmentation in orthogonal direction by the resolution of the trigger hodoscope, allows for very detailed analysis of the 1 m2 detector under study by subdivision into 160 partitions, each being analyzed separately. We are able to disentangle deviations from the readout strip straightness and global deformation due to the small overpressure caused by the Ar:CO2 (93:7) gas mixture flux. We introduce the alignment and calibration procedure, report on homogeneity in efficiency and pulse height and present results on deformation and performance of the m2-sized Micromegas.

Design, construction and performance tests of a prototype micromegas chamber with two readout planes in a common gas volume

In this paper, the design and the performance of a prototype detector based on MicroMegas technology with two detection planes in a common gas volume is discussed. The detector is suited for the forward region of LHC detectors, addressing the high-rate environment and limited available space. Each detection plane has an active area of 9×9cm2 with a two-dimensional strip readout and is separated by a common gas region with a height of 14mm. A micro-mesh, working as a cathode, is placed in the middle of the common gas volume separating it into two individual cells. This setup allows for an angle reconstruction of incoming particles with a precision of ∼2mrad. Since this design reduces the impact of multiple scattering effects by the reduced material budget, possible applications for low energy beam experiments can be envisioned. The performance of the prototype detector has been tested with a 4.4GeV electron beam, provided by the test beam facility at DESY.

A fast, low power and low noise charge sensitive amplifier ASIC for a UV imaging single photon detector

NASA has funded, through their Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) program, the development of a cross strip (XS) microchannel plate (MCP) detector with the intention to increase its technology readiness level (TRL), enabling prototyping for future NASA missions. One aspect of the development is to convert the large and high powered laboratory Parallel Cross Strip (PXS) readout electronics into application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to decrease their mass, volume, and power consumption (all limited resources in space) and to make them more robust to the environments of rocket launch and space. The redesign also foresees to increase the overall readout event rate, and decrease the noise contribution of the readout system. This work presents the design and verification of the first stage for the new readout system, the 16 channel charge sensitive amplifier ASIC, called the CSAv3. The single channel amplifier is composed of a charge sensitive amplifier (pre-amplifier), a pole zero cancellation circuit and a shaping amplifier. An additional output stage buffer allows polarity selection of the output analog signal. The operation of the amplifier is programmable via serial bus. It provides an equivalent noise charge (ENC) of around 600 e^− and a baseline gain of 10 mV/fC. The full scale pulse shaped output signal is confined within 100 ns, without long recovery tails, enabling up to 10 MHz periodic event rates without signal pile up. This ASIC was designed and fabricated in 130 nm, TSMC CMOS 1.2 V technology. In addition, we briefly discuss the construction of the readout system and plans for the future work.

Characterization of Micromegas with elongated pillars

We present a resistive Micromegas detector built with two different pillar shapes. The pillars are elongated and extend in the direction orthogonal to the readout strips. One region features pillars of 2 mm × 0.2 mm with 4.8 mm pitch while in the other region the pillars extend over the full width of the detector. The larger surface of the pillars allows for a better adhesion to the readout structure and a more uniform amplification gap. Results on the detector performance for the two regions are presented. No striking performance differences between the two regions were found.

An Information-Theoretical Approach to Image Resolution Applied to Neutron Imaging Detectors Based Upon Individual Discriminator Signals

1D or 2D neutron position sensitive detectors with individual wire or strip readout using discriminators have the advantage of being able to treat several neutron impacts partially overlapping in time, hence reducing global dead time. A single neutron impact usually gives rise to several discriminator signals. In this paper, we introduce an information-theoretical definition of image resolution. Two point-like spots of neutron impacts with a given distance between them act as a source of information (each neutron hit belongs to one spot or the other), and the detector plus signal treatment is regarded as an imperfect communication channel that transmits this information. The maximal mutual information obtained from this channel as a function of the distance between the spots allows to define a calibration-independent measure of position resolution. We then apply this measure to quantify the power of position resolution of different algorithms treating these individual discriminator signals which can be implemented in firmware. The method is then applied to different detectors existing at the ILL. Center-of-gravity methods usually improve the position resolution over best-wire algorithms which are the standard way of treating these signals.

Multi-peak pattern in Multi-gap RPC time-over-threshold distributions and an offline calibration method

The Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII) has just updated its end-cap Time-of-Flight (ETOF) system, using the Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC) to replace the current scintillator detectors. These MRPCs shows multi-peak phenomena in their time-over-threshold (TOT) distribution, which was also observed in the Long-strip MRPC built for the RHIC-STAR Muon Telescope Detector (MTD). After carefully investigated the correlation between the multi-peak distribution and incident hit positions along the strips, we find out that it can be semi-quantitatively explained by the signal reflections on the ends of the readout strips. Therefore a new offline calibration method was implemented on the MRPC ETOF data in BESIII, making T-TOT correlation significantly improved to evaluate the time resolution.

Readout method for two-dimensional multi-wire proportional chamber

A two-dimensional multi-wire proportional chamber detector based on 3He gas is developed for meeting the multifunctional reflection spectrum detection requirements of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). Based on the previous researches in our laboratory, three different wire structures are studied for optimizing the wire readout structure of the two-dimensional multi-wire proportional chamber detector, and the performances of the detectors are measured by two readout methods:the center of gravity readout method and the digital readout method in this paper. The selected method could satisfy the requirement of multifunctional reflection spectrum instrument. Finally, the results indicate that the position resolution and the imaging capability obtained by using the center of gravity readout method should be better than by using the digital readout method. The position resolution could reach to about 160 m by using the center of gravity readout method. While the position resolution of the detector could be obtained to be about 400 m by using the digital readout method. Re-designed and compared with each other are the three different wire structures:1.5 mm of the anode wire pitch and 4 mm of the readout strip pitch with the center of gravity readout method, 1.5 mm of the anode wire pitch and 2 mm of the readout strip pitch with the digital readout method. Both of the optimized designs of the wire structure could meet the requirement of the position resolution for the reflection spectrum device.

Measurement of characteristic impedance of silicon fiber sheet based readout strip panel for RPC detector in INO

The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is a mega science project of India, which is going to use about 30,000 Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) as active detector elements for the study of atmoshpheric neutrino oscillations. Each RPC detector will consist of two orthogonally placed readout strip panel for picking the signals generated in the gas chamber. The area of RPC detector in INO-ICAL (Iron Calorimeter) experiment will be 2 m × 2 m, therefore the dimensions of readout strip panel should also be 2 m × 2 m. To get undistorted signals pass through the readout strip panel to front-end electronics, their characteristic impedance should be matched with each other. In the present paper, we describe the need and search of new dielectric material for the fabrication of flame resistant, waterproof and flexible readout strip panel. We will also describe the measurement of characteristic impedance of Plastic Honeycomb (PH) based readout strip panel and Silicon Fiber Sheet (SFS) based readout strip panel in a comparative way, and its variation under loading and with time. Based on this study, we found that a 5 mm thick SFS-based readout strip panel has a minimum signal reflection at 49.5 ohm characteristic impedance value. Our study shows that SFS is a good dielectric material for the purpose.

Comparison of hadron shower data in the PAMELA experiment with Geant 4 simulations

The sampling imaging electromagnetic calorimeter of ≈ 16.3 radiation lengths and ≈ 0.6 nuclear interaction length designed and constructed by the PAMELA collaboration as a part of the large magnetic spectrometer PAMELA. Calorimeter consists of 44 single-sided silicon sensor planes interleaved with 22 plates of tungsten absorber (thickness of each tungsten layer 0.26 cm). Silicon planes are composed of a 3 × 3 matrix of silicon detectors, each segmented into 32 read-out strips with a pitch of 2.4 mm. The orientation of the strips of two consecutive layers is orthogonal and therefore provides two-dimensional spatial information. Due to the high granularity, the development of hadronic showers can be study with a good precision.In this work a Monte Carlo simulations (based on Geant4) performed using different available models, and including detector and physical effects, compared with the experimental data obtained on the near Earth orbit. Response of the PAMELA calorimeter to hadronic showers investigated including total energy release in calorimeter and transverse shower profile characteristics.

Electric fields, weighting fields, signals and charge diffusion in detectors including resistive materials

In this report we discuss static and time dependent electric fields in detector geometries with an arbitrary number of parallel layers of a given permittivity and weak conductivity. We derive the Green's functions i.e. the field of a point charge, as well as the weighting fields for readout pads and readout strips in these geometries. The effect of `bulk' resistivity on electric fields and signals is investigated. The spreading of charge on thin resistive layers is also discussed in detail, and the conditions for allowing the effect to be described by the diffusion equation is discussed. We apply the results to derive fields and induced signals in Resistive Plate Chambers, MICROMEGAS detectors including resistive layers for charge spreading and discharge protection as well as detectors using resistive charge division readout like the MicroCAT detector. We also discuss in detail how resistive layers affect signal shapes and increase crosstalk between readout electrodes.

Development of FEB Test Platform for ATLAS New Small Wheel Upgrade

This concept of test platform is based on the test requirements of the front-end board (FEB) which is developed for the phase I upgrade of the small Thin Gap Chamber(sTGC) detector on New Small Wheel(NSW) of ATLAS. The front-end electronics system of sTGC consists of 1,536 FEBs with about 322,000 readout of strips, wires and pads in total. A test platform for FEB with up to 256 channels has been designed to keep the testing efficiency at a controllable level. We present the circuit model architecture of the platform, and its functions and implementation as well. The firmware based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and the software based on PC have been developed, and basic test methods have been established. FEB readout measurements have been performed in analog injection from the test platform, which will provide a fast and efficient test method for the production of FEB.

Development and test of a real-size MRPC for CBM-TOF

In the CBM (Compressed Baryonic Matter) experiment constructed at the Facility for Anti-proton and Ion Research (Fair) at GSI, Darmstadt, Germany, MRPC(Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chamber) is adopted to construct the large TOF (Time-of-Flight) system to achieve an unprecedented precision of hadron identification, benefiting from its good time resolution, relatively high efficiency and low construction price. Aiming at CBM TOF, we've developed a kind of double-ended readout strip MRPC which applies low resistive glass to keep good performance of time resolution under high-rate condition. There are 24 strips on one counter, and each is carefully designed to match the 100 Ω impedance of PADI electronics. The prototype of this strip MRPC has been tested with cosmic ray, a 98% efficiency and 60ps time resolution is gotten. In order to further examine the performance of the detector working under higher particle flux rate, the prototype has been tested in the 2014 October GSI beam time and 2015 February CERN beam time. In both beam times a relatively high rate of 1 kHz/cm2 was obtained. The calibration is done with CBM ROOT, and an efficiency of 97% and time resolution of 48ps are obtained. All these results show that the real-size prototype is fully capable of the requirement of the CBM-TOF, and new designs such as self-sealed are modified into the strip counter prototype to obtain even better performance.

P-stop isolation study of irradiated n-in-p type silicon strip sensors for harsh radiation environments

In order to determine the most radiation hard silicon sensors for the CMS Experiment after the Phase II Upgrade in 2023 a comprehensive study of silicon sensors after a fluence of up to 1.5×1015neq/cm2 corresponding to 3000fb−1 after the HL-LHC era has been carried out. The results led to the decision that the future Outer Tracker (20cm<R<110cm) of CMS will consist of n-in-p type sensors. This technology is more radiation hard but also the manufacturing is more challenging compared to p-in-n type sensors due to additional process steps in order to suppress the accumulation of electrons between the readout strips. One possible isolation technique of adjacent strips is the p-stop structure which is a p-type material implantation with a certain pattern for each individual strip. However, electrical breakdown and charge collection studies indicate that the process parameters of the p-stop structure have to be carefully calibrated in order to achieve a sufficient strip isolation but simultaneously high breakdown voltages. Therefore a study of the isolation characteristics with four different silicon sensor manufacturers has been executed in order to determine the most suitable p-stop parameters for the harsh radiation environment during HL-LHC. Several p-stop doping concentrations, doping depths and different p-stop pattern have been realized and experiments before and after irradiation with protons and neutrons have been performed and compared to T-CAD simulation studies with Synopsys Sentaurus. The measurements combine the electrical characteristics measured with a semi-automatic probestation with Sr90 signal measurements and analogue readout. Furthermore, some samples have been investigated with the help of a cosmic telescope with high resolution allowing charge collection studies of MIPs penetrating the sensor between two strips.