arXiv subjects

P. Schwemling

Publications and source records attributed to P. Schwemling.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Test-beam results from MiniCACTUS-v2: A depleted monolithic CMOS timing sensor prototype

MiniCACTUS-v2 is a monolithic sensor prototype designed in LF 150 nm CMOS process for time tagging of individual Minimum Ionizing Particles with an accuracy better than 100 ps. The sensing element is a deep n-well/p-substrate diode without internal amplification. To minimize detector capacitances, the analog front-ends and the discriminators for each pixel have been implemented outside the pixel, at the column level. After fabrication, the sensors have been thinned to 150 microns, 175 microns and 200 microns and then post-processed for backside biasing. The breakdown voltages measured on these sensors are higher than 500 V, ensuring the complete depletion of the charge collection volume. In this paper, we will focus on the time resolution measurements from a test-beam campaign conducted in July 2025 at SPS-CERN. During this period, several pixels from the 3 different sensor thicknesses have been tested at different bias voltages. The best time resolution measured is 48.88 ps on a 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm pixel from a 175 microns-thick sensor at 500 V, with nominal settings for the on-chip analog front-end and discriminator.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Radiation hard DMAPS pixel sensors in 150nm CMOS technology for operation at LHC

Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) have been developed since the late 1990s employing silicon substrate with a thin epitaxial layer in which deposited charge is collected by disordered diffusion rather than by drift in an electric field. As a consequence the signal is small and slow, and the radiation tolerance is below the requirements for LHC experiments by factors of 100 to 1000. We developed fully depleted (D)MAPS pixel sensors employing a 150 nm CMOS technology and using a high resistivity substrate as well as a high biasing voltage. The development has been carried out in three subsequent iterations, from prototypes to a large pixel matrix comprising a complete readout architecture suitable for LHC operation. Full CMOS electronics is embedded in large deep n-wells which at the same time serve as collection nodes (large electrode design). The devices have been intensively characterized before and after irradiation employing lab tests as well as particle beams. The devices can cope with particle rates seen by the innermost pixel detectors of the LHC pp-experiments or as seen by the outer pixel layers of the planned HL-LHC upgrade. They are radiation hard to particle fluences of at least $10^{15}~\mathrm{n_{eq}/cm^2}$ and total ionization doses of at least 50 Mrad.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Mini-MALTA: Radiation hard pixel designs for small-electrode monolithic CMOS sensors for the High Luminosity LHC

Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (DMAPS) prototypes developed in the TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS imaging process have been designed in the context of the ATLAS upgrade Phase-II at the HL-LHC. The pixel sensors are characterized by a small collection electrode (3 $μ$m) to minimize capacitance, a small pixel size ($36.4\times 36.4$ $μ$m), and are produced on high resistivity epitaxial p-type silicon. The design targets a radiation hardness of $1\times10^{15}$ 1 MeV n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$, compatible with the outermost layer of the ATLAS ITK Pixel detector. This paper presents the results from characterization in particle beam tests of the Mini-MALTA prototype that implements a mask change or an additional implant to address the inefficiencies on the pixel edges. Results show full efficiency after a dose of $1\times10^{15}$ 1 MeV n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Precise Charged Particle Timing with the PICOSEC Detector

The experimental requirements in near future accelerators (e.g. High Luminosity-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in development of detectors with high precision timing capabilities. With this as a goal, a new detection concept called PICOSEC, which is based to a "two-stage" MicroMegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator equipped with a photocathode has been developed. Results obtained with this new detector yield a time resolution of 24\,ps for 150\,GeV muons and 76\,ps for single photoelectrons. In this paper we will report on the performance of the PICOSEC in test beams, as well as simulation studies and modelling of its timing characteristics.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Charged particle timing at sub-25 picosecond precision: the PICOSEC detection concept

The PICOSEC detection concept consists in a "two-stage" Micromegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator and equipped with a photocathode. A proof of concept has already been tested: a single-photoelectron response of 76 ps has been measured with a femtosecond UV laser at CEA/IRAMIS, while a time resolution of 24 ps with a mean yield of 10.4 photoelectrons has been measured for 150 GeV muons at the CERN SPS H4 secondary line. This work will present the main results of this prototype and the performance of the different detector configurations tested in 2016-18 beam campaigns: readouts (bulk, resistive, multipad) and photocathodes (metallic+CsI, pure metallic, diamond). Finally, the prospects for building a demonstrator based on PICOSEC detection concept for future experiments will be discussed. In particular, the scaling strategies for a large area coverage with a multichannel readout plane, the R\&D on solid converters for building a robust photocathode and the different resistive configurations for a robust readout.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Characterization of a depleted monolithic pixel sensors in 150 nm CMOS technology for the ATLAS Inner Tracker upgrade

This work presents a depleted monolithic active pixel sensor (DMAPS) prototype manufactured in the LFoundry 150\,nm CMOS process. DMAPS exploit high voltage and/or high resistivity inclusion of modern CMOS technologies to achieve substantial depletion in the sensing volume. The described device, named LF-Monopix, was designed as a proof of concept of a fully monolithic sensor capable of operating in the environment of outer layers of the ATLAS Inner Tracker upgrade in 2025 for the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). This type of devices has a lower production cost and lower material budget compared to presently used hybrid designs. In this work, the chip architecture will be described followed by the characterization of the different pre-amplifier and discriminator flavors with an external injection signal and an iron source (5.9\,keV x-rays).

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

PICOSEC: Charged particle timing at sub-25 picosecond precision with a Micromegas based detector

The prospect of pileup induced backgrounds at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in developing technologies for charged particle detection with accurate timing at high rates. The required accuracy follows directly from the nominal interaction distribution within a bunch crossing ($σ_z\sim5$ cm, $σ_t\sim170$ ps). A time resolution of the order of 20-30 ps would lead to significant reduction of these backgrounds. With this goal, we present a new detection concept called PICOSEC, which is based on a "two-stage" Micromegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator and equipped with a photocathode. First results obtained with this new detector yield a time resolution of 24 ps for 150 GeV muons, and 76 ps for single photoelectrons.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Depleted fully monolithic CMOS pixel detectors using a column based readout architecture for the ATLAS Inner Tracker upgrade

Depleted monolithic active pixel sensors (DMAPS), which exploit high voltage and/or high resistivity add-ons of modern CMOS technologies to achieve substantial depletion in the sensing volume, have proven to have high radiation tolerance towards the requirements of ATLAS in the high-luminosity LHC era. Depleted fully monolithic CMOS pixels with fast readout architectures are currently being developed as promising candidates for the outer pixel layers of the future ATLAS Inner Tracker, which will be installed during the phase II upgrade of ATLAS around year 2025. In this work, two DMAPS prototype designs, named LF-MonoPix and TJ-MonoPix, are presented. LF-MonoPix was designed and fabricated in the LFoundry 150~nm CMOS technology, and TJ-MonoPix has been designed in the TowerJazz 180~nm CMOS technology. Both chips employ the same readout architecture, i.e. the column drain architecture, whereas different sensor implementation concepts are pursued. The design of the two prototypes will be described. First measurement results for LF-MonoPix will also be shown.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2009

New Magellanic Cloud R Coronae Borealis and DY Per type stars from the EROS-2 database: the connection between RCBs, DYPers and ordinary carbon stars

R Coronae Borealis stars (RCB) are a rare type of evolved carbon-rich supergiant stars that are increasingly thought to result from the merger of two white dwarfs, called the Double degenerate scenario. This scenario is also studied as a source, at higher mass, of type Ia Supernovae (SnIa) explosions. Therefore a better understanding of RCBs composition would help to constrain simulations of such events. We searched for and studied RCB stars in the EROS Magellanic Clouds database. We also extended our research to DY Per type stars (DYPers) that are expected to be cooler RCBs (T~3500 K) and much more numerous than their hotter counterparts. The light curves of ~70 millions stars have been analysed to search for the main signature of RCBs and DYPers: a large drop in luminosity. Follow-up optical spectroscopy was used to confirm each photometric candidate found. We have discovered and confirmed 6 new Magellanic Cloud RCB stars and 7 new DYPers, but also listed new candidates: 3 RCBs and 14 DYPers. We estimated a range of Magellanic RCB shell temperatures between 360 and 600 K. We confirm the wide range of absolute luminosity known for RCB stars, M_V~-5.2 to -2.6. Our study further shows that mid-infrared surveys are ideal to search for RCB stars, since they have thinner and cooler circumstellar shells than classical post-AGB stars. In addition, by increasing the number of known DYPers by ~400%, we have been able to shed light on the similarities in the spectral energy distribution between DYPers and ordinary carbon stars. We also observed that DYPer circumstellar shells are fainter and hotter than those of RCBs. This suggests that DYPers may simply be ordinary carbon stars with ejection events, but more abundance analysis is necessary to give a status on a possible evolutionnary connexion between RCBs and DYPers.

astro-ph.SR↗