Development of an advanced SiPM camera for the Large Size Telescope of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory

Discussion timeslot (ZOOM-Meeting): 20. July 2021 - 12:00
ZOOM-Meeting URL: https://desy.zoom.us/j/91896950007
ZOOM-Meeting ID: 91896950007
ZOOM-Meeting Passcode: ICRC2021
Corresponding Session: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/channel/56-New-Instruments-Performance-amp-Future-Projects-for-Ground-Based-Gamma-Ray-Astronomy-GAI/79
Live-Stream URL: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/livestream/Discussion-06/7

Abstract:
Silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs) have become the baseline choice for cameras of the small-sized telescopes (SSTs) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), as the pioneering work of the FACT telescope and the prototypes of SSTs have demonstrated. On the other hand, covering larger surfaces and operating at higher data rates still represent a challenge for SiPMs to surpass photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs) explaining why the medium and large-size telescopes (MSTs and LSTs) of CTA employ PMTs. The larger light collection surfaces added to the higher sensitivity in the near infra-red of SiPMs compared to PMTs represent challenges as the night sky background rate increases greatly. In order not to affect the energy threshold of the instruments, a dedicated RandD activity needs to be carried out. On the other hand, the robustness of the SiPMs represents a unique opportunity to ensure long-term operation with low maintenance and better duty cycle being sensitive even at high levels of background light. The proposed camera for LSTs will feature 0.05 deg pixels, low power and fast front-end electronics and a fully digital readout enabling the use of machine learning algorithms as close as possible to the sensor for on-the-fly data volume reduction and background rejection. In this work, we present the status of the research on the sensor and the front-end stage. Additionally, we present the performance evaluation of the camera coupled to the LST optical system. This was done by means of dedicated Monte Carlo simulations and using advanced image reconstruction methods, taking advantage of the higher granularity offered by the smaller pixels.'

Authors: Matthieu Heller
Co-Authors: Thomas Armstrong | Maria Isabelle Bernardos | Mykhailo Dalchenko | Domenico della Volpe | Davide Depaoli | Federico Di Pierro | Gabriel Emery | Ruben Lopez-Coto | Mose Mariotti | David Medina Miranda | Teresa Montaruli | Andrii Nagai | Riccardo Rando | Hiroyasu Tajima
Collaboration: CTALST

Indico-ID: 347
Proceeding URL: https://pos.sissa.it/395/889