Max Renschler

Characterization of Hamamatsu 64-channel TSV SiPMs

Abstract The Hamamatsu UV-light enhanced 64-channel SiPM array of the newest generation ( S13361-3050AS-08 ) has been examined for the purpose of being used for the Silicon Elementary Cell Add-on (SiECA) of the EUSO-SPB balloon experiment. At a room temperature of 19 . 5 ° C , the average measured breakdown voltage of the array is ( 51 . 65 ± 0 . 11 ) V, the average gain is measured to ( 2 . 10 ± 0 . 07 ) ⋅ 1 0 6 and the average photon detection efficiency results to ( 44 . 58 ± 1 . 80 ) % at a wavelength of ( 423 ± 8 ) nm and a bias voltage of 55 . 2 V. The average dark-count rate is ( 0 . 69 ± 0 . 12 ) MHz, equivalent to a dark count rate per SiPM area of ( 57 ± 12 ) kHz ∕ mm 2 , and the crosstalk probability is measured to ( 3 . 96 ± 0 . 64 ) % . These results confirm the information given by the manufacturer. Measurements performed with the newly installed Single Photon Calibration Stand at KIT (SPOCK) show the improved sensitivity to photons with wavelengths lower than 400 nm compared to the SiPM array S12642-0808PA-50 , which was also investigated for comparison. Additional measurements confirm the strong temperature dependence of the SiPM characteristics as given in the data sheet. All the characterized parameters appear to be sufficiently uniform to build up a focal surface of SiPM arrays fulfilling the requirements for a telescope detecting photons in the UV range.

SiECA: Silicon Photomultiplier Prototype for Flight with EUSO-SPB

Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM or MPPC) offer an alternative low light sensor to Multi-Anode Photomultiplier Tubes with the benefits of low operating voltage, compact packaging and reduced susceptibility to damage. The Silicon photomultiplier Elementary Cell Add-on camera (SiECA)comprises front end opto-electric sensors, SiPM specific ASIC signal processing chipset, data handling FPGA, support electronics and firmware integrated in a robust unit for integration on existing detector systems. This paper presents the technical aspects of using SiPM or MPPC for astroparticle physics, particularly with respect to this implementation. A first flight of this camera was made with the EUSO-SPB mission starting April 2017.