TARGET: A multi-channel digitizer chip for very-high-energy gamma-ray telescopes
Journal Article
·
· Submitted to Nuclear Instrumentation and Methods (NIM)
OSTI ID:1023776
The next-generation very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array, will feature dozens of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), each with thousands of pixels of photosensors. To be affordable and reliable, reading out such a mega-channel array requires event recording technology that is highly integrated and modular, with a low cost per channel. We present the design and performance of a chip targeted to this application: the TeV Array Readout with GSa/s sampling and Event Trigger (TARGET). This application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) has 16 parallel input channels, a 4096-sample buffer for each channel, adjustable input termination, self-trigger functionality, and tight window-selected readout. We report the performance of TARGET in terms of sampling frequency, power consumption, dynamic range, current-mode gain, analog bandwidth, and cross talk. The large number of channels per chip allows a low cost per channel ($10 to $20 including front-end and back-end electronics but not including photosensors) to be achieved with a TARGET-based IACT readout system. In addition to basic performance parameters of the TARGET chip itself, we present a camera module prototype as well as a second-generation chip (TARGET 2), both of which have been produced.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 1023776
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-14202; arXiv:1105.1832
- Journal Information:
- Submitted to Nuclear Instrumentation and Methods (NIM), Journal Name: Submitted to Nuclear Instrumentation and Methods (NIM)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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