Development of a composite large-size SiPM (assembled matrix) based modular detector cluster for MAGIC

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2017-02, Vol.845, p.89-92
• Main Authors: Hahn, A., Mazin, D., Bangale, P., Dettlaff, A., Fink, D., Grundner, F., Haberer, W., Maier, R., Mirzoyan, R., Podkladkin, S., Teshima, M., Wetteskind, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes; Silicon photomultiplier
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2016.06.102

The MAGIC collaboration operates two 17m diameter Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) on the Canary Island of La Palma. Each of the two telescopes is currently equipped with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) based imaging camera. Due to the advances in the development of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), they are becoming a widely used alternative to PMTs in many research fields including gamma-ray astronomy. Within the Otto-Hahn group at the Max Planck Institute for Physics, Munich, we are developing a SiPM based detector module for a possible upgrade of the MAGIC cameras and also for future experiments as, e.g., the Large Size Telescopes (LST) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Because of the small size of individual SiPM sensors (6mm×6mm) with respect to the 1-inch diameter PMTs currently used in MAGIC, we use a custom-made matrix of SiPMs to cover the same detection area. We developed an electronic circuit to actively sum up and amplify the SiPM signals. Existing non-imaging hexagonal light concentrators (Winston cones) used in MAGIC have been modified for the angular acceptance of the SiPMs by using C++ based ray tracing simulations. The first prototype based detector module includes seven channels and was installed into the MAGIC camera in May 2015. We present the results of the first prototype and its performance as well as the status of the project and discuss its challenges. •The design of the first SiPM large-size IACT pixel is described.•The simulation of the light concentrators is presented.•The temperature stability of the detector module is demonstrated.•The calibration procedure of SiPM device in the field is described.