Abstract In this paper we report on a set of characterisations carried out on the first monolithic LGAD prototype integrated in a customised 110 nm CMOS process having a depleted active volume ...thickness of 48 μm. This prototype is formed by a pixel array where each pixel has a total size of 100 μm× 250 μm and includes a high-speed front-end amplifier. After describing the sensor and the electronics architecture, both laboratory and in-beam measurements are reported and described. Optical characterisations performed with an IR pulsed laser setup have shown a sensor internal gain of about 2.5. With the same experimental setup, the electronic jitter was found to be between 50 ps and 150 ps, depending on the signal amplitude. Moreover, the analysis of a test beam performed at the Proton Synchrotron (PS) T10 facility of CERN with 10 GeV/c protons and pions indicated that the overall detector time resolution is in the range of 234 ps to 244 ps. Further TCAD investigations, based on the doping profile extracted from C(V) measurements, confirmed the multiplication gain measured on the test devices. Finally, TCAD simulations were used to tune the future doping concentration of the gain layer implant, targeting sensors with a higher avalanche gain. This adjustment is expected to enhance the timing performance of the sensors of the future productions, in order to cope with the high event rate expected in most of the near future high-energy and high-luminosity physics experiments, where the time resolution will be essential to disentangle overlapping events and it will also be crucial for Particle IDentification (PID).
This paper describes the new concept of the double LGAD (low-gain avalanche diodes). The goal was to increase the charge at the input of the electronics, keeping a time resolution equal to or better ...than a standard (single) LGAD; this has been realized by adding the charges of two coupled LGADs while still using a single front-end electronics. The study here reported has been done starting from single LGAD with a thickness of 25 µm, 35 µm and 50 µm.
This paper presents the measurements on first very thin Ultra-Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSDs) produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler; the data have been collected in a beam test setup at the CERN PS, ...using beam with a momentum of 12 GeV/c. UFSDs with a nominal thickness of 25 and 35
μ
m and an area of 1
×
1
mm
2
have been considered, together with an additional HPK 50-
μ
m thick sensor, taken as reference. Their timing performances have been studied as a function of the applied voltage and gain. A time resolution of about 25 ps and of 22 ps at a voltage of 120 and 240 V has been obtained for the 25 and 35
μ
m thick UFSDs, respectively.
Abstract
The direct response of Silicon PhotoMultipliers being
traversed by a MIP charged particle have been studied in a
systematic way for the first time. Using beam test data, time
resolution and ...the crosstalk probability have been measured. A
characterization of the SiPM by means of a laser beam is also
reported. The results obtained for different sensors indicate a
measured time resolution around 40–70 ps. Although particles are
expected to traverse only one SPAD per event, crosstalk measurements
on different sensors indicate an unexpected higher value with
respect to the one related to the sensor noise.
In this paper, different Silicon PhotoMultiplier (SiPM) sensors have been tested with charged particles to characterize the Cherenkov light produced in the sensor protection layer. A careful position ...scan of the SiPM response has been performed with different prototypes, confirming the large number of firing cells and proving almost full efficiency, with the SiPM filling factor essentially negligible. This study also allowed us to study the time resolution of such devices as a function of the number of firing cells, reaching values below 20 ps. These measurements provide significant insight into the capabilities of SiPM sensors in direct detection of charged particles and their potential for several applications.
In this paper, evidence that the increased response of SiPM sensors to the passage of charged particles is related mainly to Cherenkov light produced in the protection layer is reported. The response ...and timing properties of sensors with different protection layers have been studied.
The evolution of serological tests for syphilis (STSs) after therapy in HIV+ patients is a major point of controversy, with possible seroreactivation and illicit seroreversion in these patients. The ...aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of STSs in a cohort of HIV+ male homosexuals with a history of treated syphilis as compared with HIV- controls.
Sixty-nine HIV+ male homosexuals with a documented history of treated syphilis and positive baseline treponemal tests were prospectively studied between 1986 and 1993. A medical examination, HIV staging, CD4+ cell count, VDRL, FTA-Abs tests and TPHA were performed every 6 months. Controls consisted of 49 HIV- patients with similar inclusion criteria over the same period. Comparisons between subgroups were based on chi(2) and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Analysis of negativation of the STS used the failure data methods (Kaplan-Meier, log-rank and Cox's model).
Patients had a mean age of 38 years, a baseline CD4+ cell count of 578/mm(3), elapsed time since last syphilis of 7.5 years and a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Controls had a mean age of 42 years, elapsed time since last syphilis of 5.3 years and a median follow-up of 4.7 years. Time to seroreversion was shorter in HIV+ patients for TPHA (p = 0.009, log-rank test) and FTA-Abs test (p = 0.001, log-rank test), even after adjustment for stage of syphilis, age and time since the last episode of syphilis. The decrease in VDRL titres was not different between the 2 groups (p = 0.053, log-rank test). Seroreversion of the TPHA, FTA-Abs test and VDRL test was not significantly related to stage of syphilis, time elapsed since the last episode of syphilis, age or history of STDs in both groups. Seroreversion of the TPHA and VDRL test was not related to baseline CD4+ cell count. However, seroreversion of the FTA-Abs test was related to a low baseline CD4+ cell count (p = 0. 003). In HIV+ patients, a significant decrease in titres was noticed for TPHA, FTA-Abs test and VDRL test over time, but this time effect remained only for TPHA titres after adjustment for the CD4+ cell count.
TPHA may serorevert in HIV+ patients. Thus, a non-reactive TPHA does not exclude a past syphilis infection in such patients. Evolution of the VDRL test after therapy is regular in HIV+ patients. The VDRL test remains adequate for controlling the efficacy of treatment in these patients.
This paper describes the new concept of the double-LGAD. The goal is to increase the charge at the input of the electronics, keeping a time resolution equal or better than a standard (single) LGAD; ...this has been realized by adding the charges of two coupled LGADs while still using a single front-end electronics. The study here reported has been done starting from single LGAD with a thickness of 25 \textmu{m}, 35 \textmu{m} and 50 \textmu{m}.
In this paper we report on a set of characterisations carried out on the first monolithic LGAD prototype integrated in a customised 110 nm CMOS process having a depleted active volume thickness of 48 ...\(\mu\)m. This prototype is formed by a pixel array where each pixel has a total size of 100 \(\mu\)m \(\times\) 250 \(\mu\)m and includes a high-speed front-end amplifier. After describing the sensor and the electronics architecture, both laboratory and in-beam measurements are reported and described. Optical characterisations performed with an IR pulsed laser setup have shown a sensor internal gain of about 2.5. With the same experimental setup, the electronic jitter was found to be between 50 ps and 150 ps, depending on the signal amplitude. Moreover, the analysis of a test beam performed at the Proton Synchrotron (PS) T10 facility of CERN with 10 GeV/c protons and pions indicated that the overall detector time resolution is in the range of 234 ps to 244 ps. Further TCAD investigations, based on the doping profile extracted from \(C(V)\) measurements, confirmed the multiplication gain measured on the test devices. Finally, TCAD simulations were used to tune the future doping concentration of the gain layer implant, targeting sensors with a higher avalanche gain. This adjustment is expected to enhance the timing performance of the sensors of the future productions, in order to cope with the high event rate expected in most of the near future high-energy and high-luminosity physics experiments, where the time resolution will be essential to disentangle overlapping events and it will also be crucial for Particle IDentification (PID).