[en] Multi-anode photomultipliers H7546 are used to readout signal from the OPERA Scintillator Tracker (CERN/SPSC 2000-028, SPSC/P318, LNGSP 25/2000; CERN/SPSC 2001-025, SPSC/M668, LNGS-EXP30/2001). A 32-channel front-end Read Out Chip prototype accommodating the H7546 has been designed at LAL. This device features a low-noise, variable gain preamplifier to correct for multi-anode non-uniformity, an auto-trigger capability 100% efficient at a 0.3 photo-electron, and a charge measurement extending over a large dynamic range [0-100] photo-electrons. In this article we describe the ASIC architecture that is being implemented for the Target Tracker in OPERA, with a special emphasis put on the designs and the measured performance

[en] Imaging calorimetry depends heavily on the development of high performance, highly integrated readout ASICs embedded inside the detector which readout the millions of foreseen channels. Suitable ASICs prototypes have been fabricated in 2006-2007 and show good preliminary performance.

[en] For the future e+ e- International Linear Collider (ILC) the ASIC SPIROC (Silicon Photomultiplier Integrated Read-Out Chip) was designed to read out the Analog Hadronic Calorimeter (AHCAL) equipped with Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM). It is an evolution of the FLC_SiPM chip designed by the OMEGA group in 2005. SPIROC2 [1] was realized in AMS SiGe 0.35 μm technology [2] and developed to match the requirements of large dynamic range, low noise, low consumption, high precision and large number of read-out channels. This ASIC is a very front-end read-out chip that integrates 36 self triggered channels with variable gain to achieve charge and time measurements. The charge measurement must be performed from 1 up to 2000 photo-electrons (p.e.) corresponding to 160 fC up to 320 pC for SiPM gain 10⁶. The time measurement is performed with a coarse 12-bit counter related to the bunch crossing clock (up to 5 MHz) and a fine time ramp based on this clock (down to 200 ns) to achieve a resolution of 1 ns. An analog memory array with a depth of 16 for each channel is used to store the time information and the charge measurement. The analog memory content (time and charge) is digitized thanks to an internal 12-bit Wilkinson ADC. The data is then stored in a 4kbytes RAM. A complex digital part is necessary to manage all these features and to transfer the data to the DAQ. SPIROC2 is the second generation of the SPIROC ASIC family designed in 2008 by the OMEGA group. A very similar version (SPIROC2c) was submitted in February 2012 to improve the noise performance and also to integrate a new TDC (Time to Digital Converter) structure. This paper describes SPIROC2 and SPIROC2c ASICs and illustrates the main characteristics thank to a series of measurements.

[en] The SPIROC chip is a dedicated very front-end electronics for an ILC (International Linear Collider) prototype of hadronic calorimeter using Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) or Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPC) readout. This ASIC is due to equip a 10,000-channel demonstrator in 2010. SPIROC is an evolution of FLC-SiPM used for the ILC Analogue HCAL physics prototype. The first prototype of SPIROC was submitted in June 2007. It embeds cutting edge features that fulfil ILC final detector requirements. It has been realized in 0.35 μm SiGe technology. It has been developed to match the requirements of large dynamic range, low noise, low consumption, high precision and large number of readout channels needed. SPIROC is an auto-triggered, dual gain, 36-channel ASIC which allows to measure on each channel the charge from one photoelectron to 2,000 photoelectron and the time with a 100 ps accurate Time-to-digital Converter (TDC). An analogue memory array with a depth of 16 for each channel is used to store the time information and the charge measurement. A 12-bit Wilkinson Analogue-to-digital Converter (ADC) has been embedded to digitize the analogue memory content (time and charge on 2 gains). The data are then stored in a 4 Kbytes RAM. A very complex digital part has been integrated to manage all these features and to transfer the data to the DAQ which is described in Dulucq et al. After an exhaustive description, the extensive measurement results of this new front-end chip are presented.

[en] A detector head composed of a continuous LaBr₃ crystal coupled to a silicon photomultiplier array has been mounted and tested, for its use in a Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy. The LaBr₃ crystal has 16 mmx18 mmx5 mm size, and it is surrounded with reflecting material in five faces. The SiPM array has 16 (4 x4) elements of 3 mmx3 mm size. The SPIROC1 ASIC has been employed as readout electronics. The detector shows a linear behavior up to 1275 keV. The energy resolution obtained at 511 keV is 7% FWHM, and it varies as one over the square root of the energy up to the energies tested. The variations among the detector channels are within 12%. A preliminary measurement of the timing resolution gives 7 ns FWHM. The spatial resolution obtained with the center of gravity method is 1.2 mm FWHM. The tests performed confirm the correct functioning of the detector.

[en] SKIROC2-CMS is a chip derived from CALICE SKIROC2 that provides 64 channels of low noise charge preamplifiers optimized for 50 pF pin diodes and 10 pC dynamic range. They are followed by high gain and low gain 25 ns shapers, a 13-deep 40 MHz analog memory used as a waveform sampler at 40 MHz. and 12-bit ADCs. A fast shaper followed by discriminator and TDC provide timing information to an accuracy of 50 ps, in order to test TOT and TOA techniques at system level and in test-beam. The chip was sent to fabrication in January 2016 in AMS SiGe 0,35 μm and was received in May. It was tested in the lab during the summer and will be mounted on sensors for beam-tests in the fall.

[en] This work has been done in order to study a new technology provided by X-FAB named xt018. It is an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) technology with a minimal gate length of 180 nm. Building blocks have been done to test the advantages and drawbacks of this technology compared to the one currently used (AMS SiGe 0.35 μm). These building blocks have been designed to fit in an existing experience housed by the CALICE collaboration: the read-out chip for the Electromagnetic CALorimeter (ECAL) of the foreseen International Linear Collider (ILC). Performances will be compared to those of the SKIROC2 chip designed by the OMEGA laboratory, trying to fit the same requirements. The chip is being manufactured and will be back for measurements in December, the displayed results are only simulation results and thus the conclusions concerning the performances of these building blocks are subject to change

[en] A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy consisting of several layers of continuous LaBr₃ crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays is under development within the ENVISION project. In order to test the possibility of employing such detectors for the telescope, a detector head consisting of a continuous 16 mm×18 mm×5 mm LaBr₃ crystal coupled to a SiPM array has been assembled and characterized, employing the SPIROC1 ASIC as readout electronics. The best energy resolution obtained at 511 keV is 6.5% FWHM and the timing resolution is 3.1 ns FWHM. A position determination method for continuous crystals is being tested, with promising results. In addition, the detector has been operated in time coincidence with a second detector layer, to determine the coincidence capabilities of the system. The first tests are satisfactory, and encourage the development of larger detectors that will compose the telescope prototype.

[en] A full custom analog CMOS circuit for obtaining a photomultiplier readout with a 16 bit resolution over 7 V has been developed. It is part of the R and D program for the photomultiplier tube front-end readout of the Pierre Auger Observatory northern site. It performs signal duplication and amplification with three gains: 0.15, 1 and 6. Each amplifier has a resolution of 10 bit and can measure signals with durations of several microseconds with a good baseline stability, for an input charge of up to tens of nano-Coulombs. The amplification is performed by current feedback amplifiers with a bandwidth of 60 MHz.The input impedance, adapted to the coaxial cables, is stable over the whole working range. A prototype was submitted in April 2004 and successfully tested. The linearity over the working range is less than 1%. It was also successfully tested on the Auger surface detector element installed at Orsay (comprised of a Cherenkov water tank equipped with Photonis XP1805 9' diameter photomultiplier tubes). The resolution over 7 V is 16.6 bit.This circuit is the first step towards a 'system-on-a-chip' (SoC) solution for a photomultplier tube readout equipped with a fast ADC for signal digitization. A setup using a single cable for both the signal and the photomultiplier high voltage power supply was shown to be successful

[en] A first prototype of a Compton camera based on continuous scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays has been successfully developed and operated. The prototype is made of two detector planes. The first detector is made of a continuous 16×18×5 mm³ LaBr₃ crystal coupled to a 16-elements SiPM array. The elements have a size of 3×3 mm ³ in a 4.5×4.05 mm² pitch. The second detector, selected by availability, consists of a continuous 16×18×5 mm³ LYSO crystal coupled to a similar SiPM array. The SPIROC1 ASIC is employed in the readout electronics. Data have been taken with a ²²Na source placed at different positions and images have been reconstructed with the simulated one-pass list-mode (SOPL) algorithm. Detector development for the construction of a second prototype with three detector planes is underway. LaBr₃ crystals of 32×36 mm² size and 5/10 mm thickness have been acquired and tested with a PMT. The resolution obtained is 3.5% FWHM at 511 keV. Each crystal will be coupled to four MPPC arrays. Different options are being tested for the prototype readout