Y. Favre

The large area detector of LOFT: the Large Observatory for X-ray Timing

LOFT (Large Observatory for X-ray Timing) is one of the five candidates that were considered by ESA as an M3 mission (with launch in 2022-2024) and has been studied during an extensive assessment phase. It is specifically designed to perform fast X-ray timing and probe the status of the matter near black holes and neutron stars. Its pointed instrument is the Large Area Detector (LAD), a 10 m2-class instrument operating in the 2-30keV range, which holds the capability to revolutionise studies of variability from X-ray sources on the millisecond time scales. The LAD instrument has now completed the assessment phase but was not down-selected for launch. However, during the assessment, most of the trade-offs have been closed leading to a robust and well documented design that will be reproposed in future ESA calls. In this talk, we will summarize the characteristics of the LAD design and give an overview of the expectations for the instrument capabilities.

100ps time resolution with thin silicon pixel detectors and a SiGe HBT amplifier

A 100um thick silicon detector with 1mm2 pad readout optimized for sub-nanosecond time resolution has been developed and tested. Coupled to a purposely developed amplifier based on SiGe HBT technology, this detector was characterized at the H8 beam line at the CERN SPS. An excellent time resolution of (106+-1)ps for silicon detectors was measured with minimum ionizing particles.

Prototype of the SST-1M Telescope Structure for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

A single-mirror small-size (SST-1M) Davies-Cotton telescope with a dish diameter of 4 m has been built by a consortium of Polish and Swiss institutions as a prototype for one of the proposed small-size telescopes for the southern observatory of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The design represents a very simple, reliable, and cheap solution. The mechanical structure prototype with its drive system is now being tested at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAS in Krakow. Here we present the design of the prototype and results of the performance tests of the structure and the drive and control system.

A double-sided silicon micro-strip Super-Module for the ATLAS Inner Detector upgrade in the High-Luminosity LHC

The ATLAS experiment is a general purpose detector aiming to fully exploit the discovery potential of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It is foreseen that after several years of successful data-taking, the LHC physics programme will be extended in the so-called High-Luminosity LHC, where the instantaneous luminosity will be increased up to 5 × 1034 cm−2 s−1. For ATLAS, an upgrade scenario will imply the complete replacement of its internal tracker, as the existing detector will not provide the required performance due to the cumulated radiation damage and the increase in the detector occupancy. The current baseline layout for the new ATLAS tracker is an all-silicon-based detector, with pixel sensors in the inner layers and silicon micro-strip detectors at intermediate and outer radii. The super-module is an integration concept proposed for the strip region of the future ATLAS tracker, where double-sided stereo silicon micro-strip modules are assembled into a low-mass local support structure. An electrical super-module prototype for eight double-sided strip modules has been constructed. The aim is to exercise the multi-module readout chain and to investigate the noise performance of such a system. In this paper, the main components of the current super-module prototype are described and its electrical performance is presented in detail.

Characterization of the VEGA ASIC coupled to large area position-sensitive Silicon Drift Detectors

Low-noise, position-sensitive Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) are particularly useful for experiments in which a good energy resolution combined with a large sensitive area is required, as in the case of X-ray astronomy space missions and medical applications. This paper presents the experimental characterization of VEGA, a custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) used as the front-end electronics for XDXL-2, a large-area (30.5 cm^2) SDD prototype. The ASICs were integrated on a specifically developed PCB hosting also the detector. Results on the ASIC noise performances, both stand-alone and bonded to the large area SDD, are presented and discussed.

Double-sided silicon strip modules for the ATLAS tracker upgrade in the High-Luminosity LHC

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will be upgraded in ~ 2022 to enable peak luminosities of ~ 5 × 1034 cm−2 s−1. In the period until ~ 2030, an integrated luminosity of ~ 3000 fb−1 is targeted, an order of magnitude increase. For ATLAS, an upgrade scenario will imply the complete replacement of its internal tracker. An all-silicon based tracker (pixels in the innermost layers, strips at outer radii) is currently being designed. The super-module is an integration concept for the barrel short and long-strip region of the future ATLAS tracker in which double-sided silicon micro-strip modules are assembled into a local support structure. A super-module prototype for eight strip modules has been built. The main components of the current prototype are described. First electrical results with DC-DC power converters are presented.

Using muon rings for the optical throughput calibration of the SST-1M prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

S. Toscano∗ a,n, E. Prandinia E-mail: simona.toscano@vub.ac.be W. Bilnikk, J. Blockic, L. .Bogaczm, T .Bulikd , F. Cadouxb, A. Christovb, M. Curyloc, D. della Volpeb, M. Dyrdac, Y. Favreb, A. Frankowskig, Ł. Grudnikic, M. Grudzinskad , M. Hellerb, B. Idźkowskie, M. Jamrozye, M. Janiakg, J. Kasperekk, K. Lalikk, E. Lyarda, E. Machc, D. Mandatl , A. Marszalekc,e, J. Michalowskic, R. Moderskig, T. Montarulib, A. Neronova, J. Niemiecc, M. Ostrowskie, P. Paśko f , M. Pechl , A. Porcellib, P. Rajdak, M. Rameezb, E. Jr. Schioppab, P. Schovanekl , K. Seweryn f , K. Skowronc, V. Sliusar j, M. Sowinskic, Ł. Stawarze, M. Stodulskae, M. Stodulskic, I. Troyano Pujadasb, R. Waltera, M. Wiȩcekk, A. Zagdanskie, K. Ziȩtarae, P. Żychowskic for the CTA Consortium† a. ISDC, Observatoire de Geneve, Universite de Geneve, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland. b. Department de physique nucleaire et corpusculaire, Universite de Geneve, CH-1205 Switzerland. c. Instytut Fizyki Jadrowej im. H. Niewodniczanskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk, 31-342 Krakow, Poland. d. Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warsaw, Poland e. Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University, ul. Orla 171, 30-244, Krakow, Poland. f. Centrum Badan Kosmicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, 18a Bartycka str., 00-716 Warsaw, Poland. g. Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. j. Astronomical Observatory, Taras Shevchenko Nat. University of Kyiv, Observatorna str., 3, Kyiv, Ukraine. k. AGH University of Science and Technology, al.Mickiewicza 30, Krakow, Poland, l. Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. m. Department of Information Technologies, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Krakow, Poland. n. Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

The large area detector onboard the eXTP mission

The eXTP (enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry) mission is a major project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and China National Space Administration (CNSA) currently performing an extended phase A study and proposed for a launch by 2025 in a low-earth orbit. The eXTP scientific payload envisages a suite of instruments (Spectroscopy Focusing Array, Polarimetry Focusing Array, Large Area Detector and Wide Field Monitor) offering unprecedented simultaneous wide-band X-ray spectral, timing and polarimetry sensitivity. A large European consortium is contributing to the eXTP study and it is expected to provide key hardware elements, including a Large Area Detector (LAD). The LAD instrument for eXTP is based on the design originally proposed for the LOFT mission within the ESA context. The eXTP/LAD envisages a deployed 3.4 m2 effective area in the 2-30 keV energy range, achieved through the technology of the large-area Silicon Drift Detectors - offering a spectral resolution of up to 200 eV FWHM at 6 keV - and of capillary plate collimators - limiting the field of view to about 1 degree. In this paper we provide an overview of the LAD instrument design, including new elements with respect to the earlier LOFT configuration.

Development of an optical system for the SST-1M telescope of the Cherenkov Telescope Array observatory

The prototype of a Davies-Cotton small size telescope (SST-1M) has been designed and developed by a consortium of Polish and Swiss institutions and proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory. The main purpose of the optical system is to focus the Cherenkov light emitted by extensive air showers in the atmosphere onto the focal plane detectors. The main component of the system is a dish consisting of 18 hexagonal mirrors with a total effective collection area of 6.47 m 2 (including the shadowing and estimated mirror reflectivity). Such a solution was chosen taking into account the analysis of the Cherenkov light propagation and based on optical simulations. The proper curvature and stability of the dish is ensured by the mirror alignment system and the isostatic interface to the telescope structure. Here we present the design of the optical subsystem together with the performance measurements of its components.

The single mirror small size telescope (SST-1M) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Small Size Telescope with Single Mirror (SST-1M) is one of the proposed types of Small Size Telescopes (SST) for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The CTA south array will be composed of about 100 telescopes, out of which about 70 are of SST class, which are optimized for the detection of gamma rays in the energy range from 5 TeV to 300 TeV. The SST-1M implements a Davies-Cotton optics with a 4 m dish diameter with a field of view of 9°. The Cherenkov light produced in atmospheric showers is focused onto a 88 cm wide hexagonal photo-detection plane, composed of 1296 custom designed large area hexagonal silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) and a fully digital readout and trigger system. The SST-1M camera has been designed to provide high performance in a robust as well as compact and lightweight design. In this contribution, we review the different steps that led to the realization of the telescope prototype and its innovative camera.