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Main Authors: Darroch, Lucas, Egan, Eamon, Leclerc, Marc-Antoine, McElroy, Thomas, Brunner, Thomas
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.15494
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author Darroch, Lucas
Egan, Eamon
Leclerc, Marc-Antoine
McElroy, Thomas
Brunner, Thomas
author_facet Darroch, Lucas
Egan, Eamon
Leclerc, Marc-Antoine
McElroy, Thomas
Brunner, Thomas
contents We present the design of an automated current-voltage (IV) multiplexer (MUX) that enables accurate measurement of the dark current in cryogenic silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), achieving a sensitivity equivalent to detecting less than one avalanche per second. Dynamic pulse-counting measurements were used as a benchmark for reconstructing the dark current in static IV measurements. The IV-MUX features 15 channels on a single board and up to seven boards can be connected in parallel under the control of one Arduino microcontroller. To minimize leakage and enhance performance, the layout includes guard rings and high-isolation relays, enabling resolution of currents as small as 49 fA. The IV-MUX can be integrated into systems designed for IV or pulse-counting measurements, enabling seamless switching between IV and pulse-counting modes. Moreover, the IV-MUX is vacuum-compatible, validated by testing an SiPM array in a cryostat. This feature reduces the need for multiple feedthroughs when testing sensor arrays in vacuum. The design is open source and can be used to facilitate rapid and automated testing of SiPMs or similar low-current devices in one measurement cycle.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_15494
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Measuring dark currents in multiple cryogenic SiPMs with sub-pA sensitivity using an automated IV multiplexer
Darroch, Lucas
Egan, Eamon
Leclerc, Marc-Antoine
McElroy, Thomas
Brunner, Thomas
Instrumentation and Detectors
Nuclear Experiment
We present the design of an automated current-voltage (IV) multiplexer (MUX) that enables accurate measurement of the dark current in cryogenic silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), achieving a sensitivity equivalent to detecting less than one avalanche per second. Dynamic pulse-counting measurements were used as a benchmark for reconstructing the dark current in static IV measurements. The IV-MUX features 15 channels on a single board and up to seven boards can be connected in parallel under the control of one Arduino microcontroller. To minimize leakage and enhance performance, the layout includes guard rings and high-isolation relays, enabling resolution of currents as small as 49 fA. The IV-MUX can be integrated into systems designed for IV or pulse-counting measurements, enabling seamless switching between IV and pulse-counting modes. Moreover, the IV-MUX is vacuum-compatible, validated by testing an SiPM array in a cryostat. This feature reduces the need for multiple feedthroughs when testing sensor arrays in vacuum. The design is open source and can be used to facilitate rapid and automated testing of SiPMs or similar low-current devices in one measurement cycle.
title Measuring dark currents in multiple cryogenic SiPMs with sub-pA sensitivity using an automated IV multiplexer
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
Nuclear Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.15494