WG3 focuses on the key technologies for RICH and other imaging detectors systems, including the full readout chain. The specific fields of interest of WG3 are listed below: they cover a wide range of technical aspects and are grouped in four areas plus the readout electronics topic.
WG3 - A: Key technologies for RICH and other imaging detectors
• Radiators: study of gas, aerogel, liquids, solids, and new materials; radiator design and characterization; combination of radiators; optimization of refractive indexes and photon
yield; optical purity; scintillation; fluid circulation systems; properties monitoring.
• Optical technologies: design, construction, characterization; mirrors, plates, lenses (standard and micro); light-weight components; mechanical, thermal, chemical properties; material compatibility; optical contacts; new concepts for optics design, aspherical surfaces, coatings (anti-reflection, filtering, wavelength shifting); chromatic correction, segmentation, multiplexing.
• Thermo-mechanical engineering design: light materials, low radiation/interaction length design; temperature monitoring, stabilization, shielding; active local cooling; annealing in
situ techniques; coolants; active optics/alignment systems; high-pressure vessels; radiation shielding.
• Ancillary instrumentation: instrumentation for control of systematic uncertainties; calibration/alignment/monitoring; measurement, online/offline of: sound speed, refractive index, transparency, fluid purity, temperature/pressure of radiators, mirrors/others position/alignment/transmissivity/reflectivity, light intensity; gain, photo-detection efficiency; devices for Detector Safety Systems.
WG3 - B: Readout electronics
The availability of high performance but easy-to-use full readout electronics chain is key to the success of most R&D projects. It is therefore intended to study integrated electronics
for the fast low-noise full readout chain of PMT/MCP/SiPM, targeting single-photon counters. Modularity, deep integration and scalability will be essential requirements for future systems.
WG3.B covers the following items: readout electronics, FE/BE, high-rate/high-bandwidth DAQ, trigger/self-trigger; low-consumption; rad-hard components; designs for extended temperature ranges; mitigation of radiation effects. The development of a full readout system chain for fast low-noise pixelated single photon counters with at least order of thousands channels, is a necessary prerequisite for many tasks in the whole DRD4. It is, in fact, required for laboratory tests, test-beam setups, both as a primary and as a redundant photo-detector, and to enable a broad range of studies targeting RICH detectors and similar imaging applications.
On the sensor side, it must be compatible with either existing or in-development imaging arrays, based on PMT/MCP/SiPM and targeting single-photon counters for RICH or other imaging detectors; on the back-end side, it must be compatible with USB/Ethernet-like standard interfaces to connect to a DAQ system and ultimately to a PC. Vertical integration of photodetectors to the readout electronics will be studied, to optimize timing resolution by means of reducing the parasitic inductances and capacitances of the interconnections. Operation in harsh radiation environments and at cryogenic temperatures will need to be considered in the longer term, but will not be a strict requisite, at least for a first iteration.
The design of the system will likely be based on existing or soon-to-be-ready ASICs. One promising development is the FastIC ASIC family, currently under development by Barcelona and CERN.
We foresee to continue generic developments in WG4.3.B, de facto as a service to the collaboration. We hope to receive support for this activity from DRD7, e.g., in the form of technical consultancy and reviews. However, it is understood that the implementation of specific geometries and functionalities, as needed to achieve the goals of various work packages, may require dedicated developments which would need to rely on the more stable structure of work packages with solid planning and adequate funds.