A synchronization and data acquisition system for silicon detectors

AbstraktAbstract

A dedicated synchronization bus has been developed and integrated into the FITPix COMBO device. It can be used as Timepix read-out (involving back-side-pulse acquisition) or as a simple spectrometer device - Spectrig (when an external single pad sensor is connected, e.g. Delta E detector). The synchronization bus permits the implementation of a system of up to 32 distinct devices running in clock locked mode while the absolute value of the timestamp is distributed to all devices in the system. Any combination of Timepix or spectrometer devices (up to 32) can be connected-up to create a final measurement set-up. The synchronization bus has also been designed to control a trigger signal and busy signal to allow an effective filtration of unpaired events when coincidence measurement is performed. The system has been tested with a Delta E-E telescope consisting of a thin detector and Timepix. The thin detector has been used for Delta E and the Timepix detector for E measurements. The Delta E detector has an area of 10 x 10 mm(2) and a thickness of 12 mu m with non-uniformity of 8%. The area and thickness of Timepix are 14 x 14 mm(2) and 300 mu m, respectively. The detection system can provide simultaneous information about position, energy, time and type of registered particles with high synchronization accuracy. Test measurements have been carried out with an alpha particle source (Ra-226) in a vacuum and the results of these measurements are presented in this paper.

A dedicated synchronization bus has been developed and integrated into the FITPix COMBO device. It can be used as Timepix read-out (involving back-side-pulse acquisition) or as a simple spectrometer device - Spectrig (when an external single pad sensor is connected, e.g. Delta E detector). The synchronization bus permits the implementation of a system of up to 32 distinct devices running in clock locked mode while the absolute value of the timestamp is distributed to all devices in the system. Any combination of Timepix or spectrometer devices (up to 32) can be connected-up to create a final measurement set-up. The synchronization bus has also been designed to control a trigger signal and busy signal to allow an effective filtration of unpaired events when coincidence measurement is performed. The system has been tested with a Delta E-E telescope consisting of a thin detector and Timepix. The thin detector has been used for Delta E and the Timepix detector for E measurements. The Delta E detector has an area of 10 x 10 mm(2) and a thickness of 12 mu m with non-uniformity of 8%. The area and thickness of Timepix are 14 x 14 mm(2) and 300 mu m, respectively. The detection system can provide simultaneous information about position, energy, time and type of registered particles with high synchronization accuracy. Test measurements have been carried out with an alpha particle source (Ra-226) in a vacuum and the results of these measurements are presented in this paper.