Light sensors selection for the Cherenkov Telescope Array : PMT and SiPM

• The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CIA) is planned as the next generation ground-based instrument (after VERITAS, H.E.S.S. and MAGIC) for astrophysics by means of very high energy gamma-rays. The CIA collaboration includes the MAGIC, the H.E.S.S. and the VERITAS collaborations. Also, a large number of astrophysicists from European institutions, from Japan and USA have joined the CIA. The CIA array will comprise about 100 imaging telescopes of three sizes that shall provide one order of magnitude higher sensitivity than the current generation of telescopes. Every telescope will use an imaging camera based on similar to 2000 PMTs. We have set up a PMT development program with Hamamatsu (Japan) and Electron Tube Enterprises (England) aiming to produce 1.5 in. PMTs of optimized parameters for the CIA project. The entire scientific community, including the medicine and biology, as well as many industrial applications, where a low light level sensors are necessary, may profit from it. Together with PMTs also SiPMs are interesting sensor candidates for the CIA telescopes. One expects about two times higher photon detection efficiency for SiPM compared to PMT. A set of parameters like the photon detection efficiency, cross-talk, afterpulsing, dark rate together with other important factors were evaluated. Here we report on the progress of these developments, based on detailed measurements.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Photomultiplier

High quantum efficiency

Photodetector

Photosensor

PMT

SiPM

MPPC

G-APD

CTA consortium

Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)