Ohannes Kamer Köseyan

Abstract We present the first beam test results with centimeter-scale AC-LGAD strip sensors, using the Fermilab Test Beam Facility and sensors manufactured by the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Sensors of this type are envisioned for applications that require large-area precision 4D tracking coverage with economical channel counts, including timing layers for the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), and space-based particle experiments. A survey of sensor designs is presented, with the aim of optimizing the electrode geometry for spatial resolution and timing performance. Several design considerations are discussed towards maintaining desirable signal characteristics with increasingly larger electrodes. The resolutions obtained with several prototypes are presented, reaching simultaneous 18 μm and 32 ps resolutions from strips of 1 cm length and 500 μm pitch. With only slight modifications, these sensors would be ideal candidates for a 4D timing layer at the EIC.

The RADiCAL Collaboration is conducting R\&D on high performance electromagnetic (EM) calorimetry to address the challenges expected in future collider experiments under conditions of high luminosity and/or high irradiation (FCC-ee, FCC-hh and fixed target and forward physics environments). Under development is a sampling calorimeter approach, known as RADiCAL modules, based on scintillation and wavelength-shifting (WLS) technologies and photosensor, including SiPM and SiPM-like technology. The modules discussed herein consist of alternating layers of very dense (W) absorber and scintillating crystal (LYSO:Ce) plates, assembled to a depth of 25 $X_0$. The scintillation signals produced by the EM showers in the region of EM shower maximum (shower max) are transmitted to SiPM located at the upstream and downstream ends of the modules via quartz capillaries which penetrate the full length of the module. The capillaries contain DSB1 organic plastic WLS filaments positioned within the region of shower max, where the shower energy deposition is greatest, and fused with quartz rod elsewhere. The wavelength shifted light from this spatially-localized shower max region is then propagated to the photosensors. This paper presents the results of an initial measurement of the time resolution of a RADiCAL module over the energy range 25 GeV $\leq$ E $\leq$ 150 GeV using the H2 electron beam at CERN. The data indicate an energy dependence of the time resolution that follows the functional form: $\sigma_{t} = a/\sqrt{E} \oplus b$, where a = 256 $\sqrt{GeV}$~ps and b = 17.5 ps. The time resolution measured at the highest electron beam energy for which data was currently recorded (150 GeV) was found to be $\sigma_{t}$ = 27 ps.

The timing characteristics of scintillators must be understood in order to determine which applications theyare appropriate for. Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) are common plastics withuncommon scintillation properties. Here, we report the timing characteristics of PEN and PET, determined by excitingthem with 120 GeV protons. The test beam was provided by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the scintillatorswere tested at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. PEN and PET are found to have dominant decay constants of 34.91 nsand 6.78 ns, respectively.

The MIP Timing Detector will provide additional timing capabilities for detection of minimum ionizing particles (MIPs) at CMS during the High Luminosity LHC era, improving event reconstruction and pileup rejection. The central portion of the detector, the Barrel Timing Layer (BTL), will be instrumented with LYSO:Ce crystals and Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) providing a time resolution of about 30 ps at the beginning of operation, and degrading to 50-60 ps at the end of the detector lifetime as a result of radiation damage. In this work, we present the results obtained using a 120 GeV proton beam at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility to measure the time resolution of unirradiated sensors. A proof-of-concept of the sensor layout proposed for the barrel region of the MTD, consisting of elongated crystal bars with dimensions of about 3 x 3 x 57 mm$^3$ and with double-ended SiPM readout, is demonstrated. This design provides a robust time measurement independent of the impact point of the MIP along the crystal bar. We tested LYSO:Ce bars of different thickness (2, 3, 4 mm) with a geometry close to the reference design and coupled to SiPMs manufactured by Hamamatsu and Fondazione Bruno Kessler. The various aspects influencing the timing performance such as the crystal thickness, properties of the SiPMs (e.g. photon detection efficiency), and impact angle of the MIP are studied. A time resolution of about 28 ps is measured for MIPs crossing a 3 mm thick crystal bar, corresponding to an MPV energy deposition of 2.6 MeV, and of 22 ps for the 4.2 MeV MPV energy deposition expected in the BTL, matching the detector performance target for unirradiated devices.

High performance calorimetry conducted at future hadron colliders, such as the FCC-hh, poses a significant challenge for applying current detector technologies due to unprecedented beam luminosities and radiation fields. Solutions include developing scintillators that are capable of separating events at the sub-fifty picosecond level while also maintaining performance after extreme and constant neutron and ionizing radiation exposure. The RADiCAL is an approach that incorporates radiation tolerant materials in a sampling 'shashlik' style calorimeter configuration, using quartz capillaries filled with organic liquid or polymer-based wavelength shifters embedded in layers of tungsten plates and LYSO crystals. This novel design intends to address the Priority Research Directions (PRD) for calorimetry listed in the DOE Basic Research Needs (BRN) workshop for HEP Instrumentation. Here we report preliminary results from an experimental run at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility in June 2022. These tests demonstrate that the RADiCAL concept is capable of < 50 ps timing resolution.

High-performance calorimetry conducted at future hadron colliders, such as the FCC-hh, poses a significant challenge for applying current detector technologies due to unprecedented beam luminosities and radiation fields. Solutions include developing scintillators that are capable of separating events at the sub-fifty picosecond level while also maintaining performance after extreme and constant neutron and ionizing radiation exposure. The radiation-hard innovative calorimeter (RADiCAL) is an approach that incorporates radiation tolerant materials in a sampling “shashlik”-style calorimeter configuration, using quartz capillaries filled with organic liquid or polymer-based wavelength shifters embedded in layers of tungsten plates and lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals. This novel design intends to address the priority research directions (PRD) for calorimetry listed in the DOE basic research needs (BRN) workshop for high energy physics (HEP) instrumentation. Here we report preliminary results from an experimental run at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF) in June 2022. These tests demonstrate that the RADiCAL concept is capable of <50 ps timing resolution.

We present the results of studies aimed at developing 4D tracking technology for a wide range of physics experiments, including the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) and future Lepton Colliders. The studies focused on evaluating the performance of centimeter-scale AC-LGAD (AC-Low Gain Avalanche Detector) sensors and a new ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) called the Fermilab Constant Fraction Discriminator (FCFD). For the AC-LGADs, we present the resolutions obtained with several prototypes, which reach simultaneous resolutions of 18 microns and 32 ps from strips of 1 cm length and 500 micron pitch. Regarding the FCFD, the mean time response for a wide range of signal amplitudes has been measured to be no more than 15 ps. This is orders of magnitude more precise than an uncorrected leading-edge discriminator-based measurement and effectively eliminates the need for a signal amplitude-based correction. Furthermore, the measured contribution to the time resolution from the FCFD ASIC is found to be 10 ps for signals with charges above 20 fC.

Optical scintillating bers lose their transparencies when exposed to radiation. Nearly all studies of radiation damage to optical bers so far only characterize this darkening with a single period of irradiation. Following the irradiation, bers undergo room temperature annealing, and regain some of their transparencies. We tested the irradiation-recovery characteristics of scintillating fibers in four consecutive cycles. In addition, three optical scintillating bers were irradiated at 22 Gy per minute for over 15 hours, and their transmittance were measured each minute by pulsing a light source through the bers. Here, we report on the in-situ characterization of the transmittance vs radiation exposure, allowing future applications to better predict the lifetime of the scintillating bers.

We report the scintillation decay constants of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) determined by excitation of the plastic substrate with an accelerated beam of protons and resulting light yield measured as a function of time with a photomultiplier attached to an oscilloscope. The decay constant of PEN was found to be 35 ns and PET 7 ns.

We report the preliminary results from repeated irradiations of optical scintillating fibers exposed to gamma radiation. Optical fibers degrade in radiation fields, but exhibit some recovery once removed. Study of repeated irradiations are difficult to find in the literature. We find that a UV-blue optical wavelength shifting fiber exhibits permanent degradation, the recovery is incomplete, and an interesting two step damage process that appears to affect which wavelengths are darkened at different rates.

PEN and PET (polyethylene naphthalate and teraphthalate) are common plastics used for drink bottles and plastic food containers. They are also good scintillators. Their ubiquity has made them of interest for high energy physics applications, as generally plastic scintillators can be very expensive. However, detailed studies on the performance of the scintillators has not yet been performed. At various tests, we measured the light yield and timing properties of PEN and PET with Fermilab and CERN test beams. We also irradiated several samples to varying gamma doses and investigated their recovery mechanisms. Here we report on the measurements performed over the past few years in order to characterize the scintillation properties of PEN and PET and discuss possible future implementations.

We present the first beam test results with centimeter-scale AC-LGAD strip sensors, using the Fermilab Test Beam Facility and sensors manufactured by the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Sensors of this type are envisioned for applications that require large-area precision 4D tracking coverage with economical channel counts, including timing layers for the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), and space-based particle experiments. A survey of sensor designs is presented, with the aim of optimizing the electrode geometry for spatial resolution and timing performance. Several design considerations are discussed towards maintaining desirable signal characteristics with increasingly larger electrodes. The resolutions obtained with several prototypes are presented, reaching simultaneous 18 micron and 32 ps resolutions from strips of 1 cm length and 500 micron pitch. With only slight modifications, these sensors would be ideal candidates for a 4D timing layer at the EIC.

The timing characteristics of scintillators must be understood in order to determine which applications they are appropriate for. Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) are common plastics with uncommon scintillation properties. Here, we report the timing characteristics of PEN and PET, determined by exciting them with 120 GeV protons. The test beam was provided by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the scintillators were tested at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. PEN and PET are found to have dominant decay constants of 34.91 ns and 6.78 ns, respectively.

We report preliminary results from in situ monitoring of an optical scintillating fiber while being exposed to a cesium-173 gamma radiatior. We measured the degradation of fiber transmittance across the visible spectrum as a function of time. We observed that the region below 500 nm was degraded quickly and thoroughly while wavelengths above 500 nm lost clarity more slowly.

The timing characteristics of scintillators must be understood in order to determine which applications they are appropriate for. Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) are common plastics with uncommon scintillation properties. Here, we report the timing characteristics of PEN and PET, determined by exciting them with 120 GeV protons. The test beam was provided by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the scintillators were tested at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. PEN and PET are found to have dominant decay constants of 34.91 ns and 6.78 ns, respectively.

As the intensity frontier in high energy physics increases, new materials, tools, and techniques must be developed in order to accommodate the prolonged exposure of detectors to high amounts of radiation. It has been observed recently that many of the active media of detectors could survive to much lower radiation doses than initially expected. In addition to the challenges introduced by extremely high doses of radiation, there is also a significant lack of in-situ radiation damage recovery systems. In recent studies, we investigated the radiation damage to common plastic scintillators such as polyethylene naphthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate, a custom made elastomer based plastic scintillator, various special glasses and scintillating fibers together with their recovery mechanisms. Here we report on the irradiation studies and the investigation of the recovery mechanisms under various conditions.