Speaker
Description
In the new era of HL-LHC experiments, fast-timing detectors are emerging as a critical priority.
Typical requirements include a temporal hit resolution of 50 ps with a fine pitch of 50 µm, maintaining high spatial resolution and radiation hardness. These specifications are essential for track separation in high pile-up environments. To address these challenges, the development of non-standard sensor designs and advanced fast-readout electronics is required, pushing the limits of current technology.
The Silicon Electron Multiplier (SiEM) sensor is a novel concept for minimum ionizing particle (MIP) detection, designed to deliver excellent time and spatial resolution with fine pitch and internal gain obtained through an integrated metal grid. This approach aims to mitigate the typical gain deactivation mechanism that may affect performance in other sensor technologies, with an expected fluence of up to 10$^{16}$ neq/cm$^2$. Manufacturing techniques such as metal-assisted chemical etching and deep reactive ion etching are being explored to produce the first SiEM demonstrators.
The characterization of such demonstrators requires the development of a dedicated fast-timing readout tool. The OPTIMA multichannel board is designed for fast readout of test structures and can simultaneously process data from 16 channels. A key feature of the OPTIMA board is its compatibility with the Timepix4 telescope for track reconstruction.
This contribution will present results from SiEM simulation studies, demonstrator manufacturing, and laboratory and test beam characterization of the OPTIMA board, conducted within the EP R\&D WP1.1 group at CERN.
