Development and Applications of SiPM to Medical Physics and Space Physics

DASIPM 2008 DIT-PRJ-08-066

Status NOT active project
DISI role Partner
Project type Research Project
Dimension National
Acquisition date 2007-09-15
Start date 2008-01-01
End date 2008-12-31

Project details

Project astract The Silicon PhotoMultiplier (SiPM) is a new type of solid-state photodetector consisting in a matrix of tiny passive-quenched Geiger-Mode Avalanche PhotoDiodes (that will be referred to as micro-pixels) all connected in parallel, providing a large current signal and a wide dynamic range, up to few hundred photons. SiPMs have recently been the object of increasing interest from the scientific community as they represent a very advantageous alternative to vacuum-based photomultiplier tubes in many applications, due to their compactness, ruggedness, low operational voltage, insensitivity to magnetic<br/>fields and low cost. <br/>After proving the feasibility of very good quality single SiPM at FBK-irst, in year 2009, the DASIPM project aims at producing large area SiPM arrays, suitable for the small animal PET application, and at their electrical and functional characterization. <br/>The fabrication of SiPM arrays imposes two main technological challenges: one is the uniformity of the SiPM properties, in order to operate them together; the second is the readout of the devices. In year 2008, SiPM arrays with readout lines routed to the edge of the detector on the sensitive side have been produced. In this configuration, the readout lines are integrated in the matrix, leading the signals from each SiPM to the side of the detector where they are wire-bonded to the readout electronics. Matrices of 2 cm x 2 cm with 1mm SiPMs on a 1.5 mm pitch are available for their use as photodetectors. Although this method has some disadvantages, it provides a fast and reliable way of testing the first SiPM matrices produced. The innovative possibility of reading out the matrices from the backplane will also be implemented with the aim of improving the sensitive-to-total area ratio.<br/>
Fundings 97000 €
Partners
  • INFN TN
  • INFN Pisa
  • INFN Bologna
  • INFN Bari
  • INFN Perugia

DISI Sub-project details

Project astract The solution of routing the signals to the edge of the detector with metal lines integrated in the detector reduces the sensitive-to-total area ratio of the device, resulting in a lower PDE. As an alternative, an innovative solution will be implemented, consisting of making a hole through the detector bulk to the backplane where the readout electronics can be bump- or wire-bonded. The implementation of the backplane readout scheme is an independent process that will run in parallel to the previous one. It will start with the fabrication of test structures, to be fabricated and tested in 2008, and will be subsequently extended to the SiPM structure and SiPM matrices in 2009.
Fundings 24500 €
Manager Gian Franco Dalla Betta
Participating RP