LArPix: demonstration of low-power 3D pixelated charge readout for liquid argon time projection chambers

Journal Article · Tue Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Instrumentation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/13/10/p10007· OSTI ID:1656470

Dwyer, D. A. ^[1]; Garcia-Sciveres, M. ^[1]; Gnani, D. ^[1]; Grace, C. ^[1]; Kohn, S. ^[2]; Kramer, M. ^[2]; Krieger, A. ^[1]; Lin, C. J. ^[1]; Luk, K. B. ^[3]; Madigan, P. ^[2]; Marshall, C. ^[1]; Steiner, H. ^[3]; Stezelberger, T. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

In this work, we report the demonstration of a low-power pixelated readout system designed for three-dimensional ionization charge detection and digital readout of liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) . Unambiguous 3D charge readout was achieved using a custom-designed system-on-a-chip ASIC (LArPix) to uniquely instrument each pad in a pixelated array of charge-collection pads. The LArPix ASIC, manufactured in 180 nm bulk CMOS, provides 32 channels of charge-sensitive amplification with self-triggered digitization and multiplexed readout at temperatures from 80 K to 300 K . Using an 832-channel LArPix-based readout system with 3 mm spacing between pads, we demonstrated low-noise (0<50 e^- RMS equivalent noise charge) and very low-power (<100 μW/channel) ionization signal detection and readout . The readout was used to successfully measure the three-dimensional ionization distributions of cosmic rays passing through a LArTPC, free from the ambiguities of existing projective techniques. The system design relies on standard printed circuit board manufacturing techniques, enabling scalable and low-cost production of large-area readout systems using common commercial facilities. This demonstration overcomes a critical technical obstacle for operation of LArTPCs in high-occupancy environments, such as the near detector site of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) .

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1656470
• Journal Information: Journal of Instrumentation, Vol. 13, Issue 10; ISSN 1748-0221
• Publisher: Institute of Physics (IOP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Cryogenic detectors
Electronic detector readout concepts (gas
liquid)
Time projec-tion Chambers (TPC)