Publication

Digital silicon photomultipliers for high-energy and nuclear physics applications

Claudio Bruschini
2025

Abstract

We will detail several CMOS SPAD photodetectors for use in a range of high-energy and nuclear physics applications, implemented at EPFL’s AQUA Lab in collaboration with external partners. The requirements are often quite different, e.g. high timing precision and detection at low event rates in time-of-flight positron emission tomography (ToF-PET), possibly requiring 3D-stacked implementations, very high data rates, spatial granularity, and photon-starved operation in ring imaging Cherenkov counters at colliders (RICH), or the coupling of sensors to scintillating fibers as active neutrino targets with a dedicated hybrid architecture. High photon detection efficiency in the visible is often required, along with tiling capability to achieve large surfaces. Operation in hostile environments is often needed as well, such as low or even cryogenic temperatures and/or high radiation levels.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/aa8a994c-71aa-4e3b-9ae1-b03fd89e7b61

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Claudio Bruschini
2025

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/aa8a994c-71aa-4e3b-9ae1-b03fd89e7b61

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel up to 99% of the speed of light, and the electromagnetic waves are on the high-energy portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher energy ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing radiation, whereas the lower energy ultraviolet, visible light, nearly all types of laser light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are non-ionizing radiation.

Positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique that uses radioactive substances known as radiotracers to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes, and in other physiological activities including blood flow, regional chemical composition, and absorption. Different tracers are used for various imaging purposes, depending on the target process within the body. For example, -FDG is commonly used to detect cancer, NaF is widely used for detecting bone formation, and oxygen-15 is sometimes used to measure blood flow.

Radiation protection

Radiation protection, also known as radiological protection, is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as "The protection of people from harmful effects of exposure to ionizing radiation, and the means for achieving this". Exposure can be from a source of radiation external to the human body or due to internal irradiation caused by the ingestion of radioactive contamination. Ionizing radiation is widely used in industry and medicine, and can present a significant health hazard by causing microscopic damage to living tissue.