arXiv subjects

L. Menzio

Publications and source records attributed to L. Menzio.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Why (and How) LGADs Work: Ionization, Space Charge, and Gain Saturation

The temporal resolution of Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs), also known as Ultra-Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSDs), is governed by two contributions: jitter, arising from electronic noise and signal slew rate, and the Landau noise term, arising from the non-uniform energy deposition of minimum ionizing particles (MIPs). We show that a correct simulation of the initial ionization alone significantly overestimates the measured Landau noise. Two additional physical mechanisms are necessary to reproduce the data: space charge effects during electron/hole drift, which smooth the granularity of the initial charge distribution, and gain saturation during multiplication, which preferentially suppresses large-amplitude fluctuations. All steps of the model have been implemented in the fast simulation program Weightfield2 (WF2). The model is validated against several independent experimental observations: the evolution of the measured charge distribution with gain, the temporal resolution of events in the Landau tail, and the thickness dependence of timing performance. We also discuss a data-driven gain measurement method based on gain saturation, and implications for gain layer design.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

A two-prong Approach to the Simulation of DC-RSD: TCAD and Spice

The DC-coupled Resistive Silicon Detectors (DCRSD) are the evolution of the AC-coupled RSD (RSD) design, both based on the Low-Gain Avalanche Diode (LGAD) technology. The DC-RSD design concept intends to address a few known issues present in RSDs (e.g., baseline fluctuation, long tail-bipolar signals) while maintaining their advantages (e.g., signal spreading, 100% fill factor). The simulation of DC-RSD presents several unique challenges linked to the complex nature of its design and the large pixel size. The defining feature of DC-RSD, charge sharing over distances that can be as large as a millimeter, represents a formidable challenge for Technology-CAD (TCAD), the standard simulation tool. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a mixed-mode approach to the DC-RSD simulation, which exploits a combination of two simulation tools: TCAD and Spice. Thanks to this hybrid approach, it has been possible to demonstrate that, according to the simulation, the key features of the RSD, excellent timing and spatial resolutions (few tens of picoseconds and few microns), are maintained in the DC-RSD design. In this work, we present the developed models and methodology, mainly showing the results of device-level numerical simulation, which have been obtained with the state-of-the-art Synopsys Sentaurus TCAD suite of tools. Such results will provide all the necessary information for the first batch of DC-RSD produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) foundry in Trento, Italy.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurements and TCAD simulations of innovative RSD and DC-RSD LGAD devices for future 4D tracking

This paper summarizes the beam test results obtained with a Resistive Silicon Detector (RSD) (also called AC-Low Gain Avalanche Diode, AC-LGAD) pixel array tested at the DESY beam test facility with a 5 GeV/c electron beam. Furthermore, it describes in detail the simulation results of DC-RSD, an evolution of the RSD design. The simulations campaign described in this paper has been instrumental in the definition of the structures implemented in the Fondazione Bruno Kessler FBK first DC-RSD production. The RSD matrix used in this study is part of the second FBK RSD production, RSD2. The best position resolution reached in this test is sigma_x = 15 micron, about 3.4% of the pitch. DC-RSD LGAD, are an evolution of the AC-coupled design, eliminating the dielectric and using a DC-coupling to the electronics. The concept of DC-RSD has been finalized using full 3D Technology-CAD simulations of the sensor behavior. TCAD simulations are an excellent tool for designing this innovative class of detectors, enabling the evaluation of different technology options (e.g., the resistivity of the n+ layer, contact materials) and geometrical layouts (shape and distance of the read-out pads).

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Innovative DC-coupled Resistive Silicon Detector for 4D tracking

In the past 10 years, two design innovations, the introduction of low internal gain (LGAD) and of resistive read-out (RSD), have radically changed the performance of silicon detectors. The LGAD mechanism, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio by about a factor of 20, leads to improved time resolution (typically 30 ps for a 50-$\mu$m thick sensor), while resistive read-out, sharing the collected charge among read-out electrodes, leads to excellent spatial resolution even using large pixels (about 15 $\mu$m for 450-$\mu$m pixel size). This contribution outlines the design strategy and presents the first performance results of the latest evolution of silicon sensors for 4D tracking, the DC-coupled Resistive Silicon Detector (DC-RSD). The DC-RSD is a thin LGAD with a DC-coupled resistive read-out. This design leads to signal containment within a predetermined number of electrodes using isolating trenches (TI technology). Several test structures and application-oriented devices have been implemented in the wafer layout. The sensors, produced at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) in the framework of the 4DSHARE project, have been characterized with a laser TCT system and recently tested at DESY with an electron beam. The study of this first prototype production will provide us with immediate feedback on the soundness of the DC-RSD concepts.

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arXiv2024

First test beam measurement of the 4D resolution of an RSD 450 microns pitch pixel matrix connected to a FAST2 ASIC

This paper reports on the spatial and temporal resolutions of an RSD 450 microns pitch pixels array measured at the DESY test beam facility. RSDs, Resistive Silicon Detectors, also known as AC-LGAD, achieve excellent position and temporal resolution by exploiting charge sharing among neighboring electrodes. The RSD matrix used in this study is part of the second FBK RSD production, RSD2, and it is composed of 450 microns pitch pixel with cross-shaped electrodes. A 7-pixel matrix was read out by the FAST2 ASIC, a 16-channel amplifier fully custom ASIC developed by INFN Torino using the 110 nm CMOS technology. The total area covered by the matrix is about 1.5 mm$^2$. The position resolution reached in this test is 15 microns, about 4\% of the pitch. The temporal resolution achieved in this work is 60 ps, dominated by the FAST2 resolution. The work also demonstrates that RSD sensors with cross-shaped electrodes achieve 100% fill factor and homogenous resolutions over the whole matrix surface, making them a suitable choice for 4D tracking applications.

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arXiv2023

A new Low Gain Avalanche Diode concept: the double-LGAD

This paper describes the new concept of the double-LGAD. The goal is to increase the charge at the input of the electronics, keeping a time resolution equal or better than a standard (single) LGAD; this has been realized by adding the charges of two coupled LGADs while still using a single front-end electronics. The study here reported has been done starting from single LGAD with a thickness of 25 \textmu{m}, 35 \textmu{m} and 50 \textmu{m}.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Resistive Read-out in Thin Silicon Sensors with Internal Gain

Two design innovations, low-gain avalanche (Low-Gain Avalance Diode, LGAD) and resistive read-out (Resistive Silicon Detector, RSD), have brought strong performance improvements to silicon sensors. Large signals, due to the added gain mechanism, lead to improved temporal precision, while charge sharing, introduced by resistive read-out, allows for achieving excellent spatial resolution even with large pixels. LGAD- and RSD- based silicon sensors are now adopted, or considered, in several future experiments and are the basis for almost every next 4D-trackers. New results obtained with sensors belonging to the second FBK production of RSD (RSD2) demonstrate how a combined resolution of 30 ps and 30 \microns can be obtained with pixels as large as $1 \times 1 $ mm$^2$.

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arXiv2022

High-Precision 4D Tracking with Large Pixels using Thin Resistive Silicon Detectors

The basic principle of operation of silicon sensors with resistive read-out is built-in charge sharing. Resistive Silicon Detectors (RSD, also known as AC-LGAD), exploiting the signals seen on the electrodes surrounding the impact point, achieve excellent space and time resolutions even with very large pixels. In this paper, a TCT system using a 1064 nm picosecond laser is used to characterize sensors from the second RSD production at the Fondazione Bruno Kessler. The paper first introduces the parametrization of the errors in the determination of the position and time coordinates in RSD, then outlines the reconstruction method, and finally presents the results. Three different pixel sizes are used in the analysis: 200 x 340, 450 x 450, and 1300 x 1300 microns^2. At gain = 30, the 450 x 450 microns^2 pixel achieves a time jitter of 20 ps and a spatial resolution of 15 microns concurrently, while the 1300 x 1300 microns^2 pixel achieves 30 ps and 30 micron, respectively. The implementation of cross-shaped electrodes improves considerably the response uniformity over the pixel surface.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Beam test results of 25 $μ$m and 35 $μ$m thick FBK UFSD]{Beam test results of 25 $μ$m and 35 $μ$m thick FBK ultra fast silicon detectors

This paper presents the measurements on first very thin Ultra Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSDs) produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler; the data have been collected in a beam test setup at the CERN PS, using beam with a momentum of 12 GeV/c. UFSDs with a nominal thickness of 25 $μ$m and 35 $μ$m and an area of 1 $\times$ 1 $\text{mm}^2$ have been considered, together with an additional HPK 50-$μ$m thick sensor, taken as reference. Their timing performances have been studied as a function of the applied voltage and gain. A time resolution of about 25 ps and of 22 ps at a voltage of 120 V and 240 V has been obtained for the 25 and 35 $μ$m thick UFSDs, respectively.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

4D Tracking: Present Status and Perspective

The past ten years have seen the advent of silicon-based precise timing detectors for charged particle tracking. The underlying reason for this evolution is a design innovation: the Low-Gain Avalanche Diode (LGAD). In its simplicity, the LGAD design is an obvious step with momentous consequences: low gain leads to large signals maintaining sensors stability and low noise, allowing sensor segmentation. Albeit introduced for a different reason, to compensate for charge trapping in irradiated silicon sensors, LGAD found fertile ground in the design of silicon-based timing detectors. Spurred by this design innovation, solid-state-based timing detectors for charged particles are going through an intense phase of R&D, and hybrid and monolithic sensors, with or without internal gain, are being explored. This contribution offers a review of this booming field.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

The second production of RSD (AC-LGAD) at FBK

In this contribution we describe the second run of RSD (Resistive AC-Coupled Silicon Detectors) designed at INFN Torino and produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Trento. RSD are n-in-p detectors intended for 4D particle tracking based on the LGAD technology that get rid of any segmentation implant in order to achieve the 100% fill-factor. They are characterized by three key-elements, (i) a continuous gain implant, (ii) a resistive n-cathode and (iii) a dielectric coupling layer deposited on top, guaranteeing a good spatial reconstruction of the hit position while benefiting from the good timing properties of LGADs. We will start from the very promising results of our RSD1 batch in terms of tracking performances and then we will move to the description of the design of the RSD2 run. In particular, the principles driving the sensor design and the specific AC-electrode layout adopted to optimize the signal confinement will be addressed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

DC-coupled resistive silicon detectors for 4-D tracking

In this work, we introduce a new design concept: the DC-Coupled Resistive Silicon Detectors, based on the LGAD technology. This new approach intends to address a few known features of the first generation of AC-Coupled Resistive Silicon Detectors (RSD). Our simulation exploits a fast hybrid approach based on a combination of two packages, Weightfield2 and LTSpice. It demonstrates that the key features of the RSD design are maintained, yielding excellent timing and spatial resolutions: a few tens of ps and a few microns. In the presentation, we will outline the optimization methodology and the results of the simulation. We will present detailed studies on the effect of changing the ratio between the n+ layer resistivity and the low-resistivity ring and on the achievable temporal and spatial resolution.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

First experimental results of the spatial resolution of RSD pad arrays read out with a 16-ch board

Resistive Silicon Detectors (RSD, also known as AC-LGAD) are innovative silicon sensors, based on the LGAD technology, characterized by a continuous gain layer that spreads across the whole sensor active area. RSDs are very promising tracking detectors, thanks to the combination of the built-in signal sharing with the internal charge multiplication, which allows large signals to be seen over multiple read-out channels. This work presents the first experimental results obtained from a 3$\times$4 array with 200~\mum~pitch, coming from the RSD2 production manufactured by FBK, read out with a 16-ch digitizer. A machine learning model has been trained, with experimental data taken with a precise TCT laser setup, and then used to predict the laser shot positions, finding a spatial resolution of $\sim$~5.5~\mum.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Development of gamma insensitive silicon carbide diagnostics to qualify intense thermal and epithermal neutron fields

The e_LiBANS project aims at creating accelerator based compact neutron facilities for diverse interdisciplinary applications. After the successful setting up and characterization of a thermal neutron source based on a medical electron LINAC, a similar assembly for epithermal neutrons has been developed. The project is based on an Elekta 18 MV LINAC coupled with a photoconverter-moderator system which deploys the (γ,n) photonuclear reaction to convert a bremsstrahlung photon beam into a neutron field. This communication describes the development of novel diagnostics to qualify the thermal and epithermal neutron fields that have been produced. In particular, a proof of concept for the use of silicon carbide photodiodes as a thermal neutron rate detector is presented.

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