Study of silicon photomultipliers fast amplifier and thermoregulation

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2011-02, Vol.630 (1), p.230-233
• Main Authors: D’antone, I., Fabbri, L., Foschi, E., Guandalini, C., Laurenti, G., Lax, I., Levi, G., Quadrani, L., Sbarra, Ca, Sbarra, Cr, Villa, M., Zoccoli, A., Zuffa, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplifiers; Coolers; Detectors; Fast amplifiers; Multiplier phototubes; Photomultipliers; Silicon; Silicon photomultipliers; Space applications; Space experiments; Thermoregulation
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2010.06.073

The silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are adopted in various physical applications, from medical physics to astrophysics, for their advantages in terms of cost and weight with respect to traditional photo detectors. Their low bias voltage supply (about 30 V), hardiness and resistance to magnetic field are ideal characteristics for space application. In the frame of INFN-Irst collaboration, some of them have been developed and produced at FBK (Trento-Italy), and have been characterized in the INFN laboratories of Bologna (DaSiPM2 collaboration). The SiPM can be used in conjunction with fibres and counters in high energy physics experiments. To exploit the SiPM time resolution, a fast amplifier has been studied. The SiPM gain depends critically on temperature and a thermal stabilization is also necessary. The use of a thermoelectric cooler module based on a Peltier cell has been investigated, and the results are shown.