Development and characterization of hybrid MCP-PMT with embedded Timepix4 ASIC used as pixelated anode
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| author | Bolzonella, Riccardo Alozy, Jerome Ballabriga, Rafael Biesuz, Nicolò Vladi Campbell, Michael Cavallini, Viola Ramusino, Angelo Cotta Fiorini, Massimiliano Franzoso, Edoardo Guarise, Marco Cudie, Xavi Llopart Romolini, Gabriele Saputi, Alessandro |
| author_facet | Bolzonella, Riccardo Alozy, Jerome Ballabriga, Rafael Biesuz, Nicolò Vladi Campbell, Michael Cavallini, Viola Ramusino, Angelo Cotta Fiorini, Massimiliano Franzoso, Edoardo Guarise, Marco Cudie, Xavi Llopart Romolini, Gabriele Saputi, Alessandro |
| contents | We present a novel single-photon detector based on a vacuum tube incorporating a photocathode, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a Timepix4 CMOS ASIC functioning as a pixelated anode. Designed to handle photon rates up to 1 billion per second across a 7 cm$^2$ active area, the detector achieves outstanding spatial and temporal resolutions of 5-10 $μ$m and below 50 ps r.m.s., respectively.
The Timepix4 ASIC comprises approximately 230,000 pixels, each integrating analog and digital front-end electronics. This enables data-driven acquisition and supports data transmission rates up to 160 Gb/s. External FPGA-based electronics manage both configuration and readout.
In order to test the timing performance of the Timepix4 ASIC we performed preliminary characterization of an assembly bonded to a 100 $μ$m thick n-on-p silicon sensor using a pulsed infrared laser, which demonstrated a per-pixel timing resolution of 110 ps, with cluster-based averaging methods improving to below 50 ps.
Six prototype detectors incorporating different MCP stack configurations and end-spoiling depths were produced by Hamamatsu Photonics. We report on their characterization, including dark count rates, gain, and spatial and timing resolutions, assessed both in laboratory conditions and during a test-beam campaign at CERN's SPS facility. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_01886 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Development and characterization of hybrid MCP-PMT with embedded Timepix4 ASIC used as pixelated anode Bolzonella, Riccardo Alozy, Jerome Ballabriga, Rafael Biesuz, Nicolò Vladi Campbell, Michael Cavallini, Viola Ramusino, Angelo Cotta Fiorini, Massimiliano Franzoso, Edoardo Guarise, Marco Cudie, Xavi Llopart Romolini, Gabriele Saputi, Alessandro Instrumentation and Detectors We present a novel single-photon detector based on a vacuum tube incorporating a photocathode, a microchannel plate (MCP), and a Timepix4 CMOS ASIC functioning as a pixelated anode. Designed to handle photon rates up to 1 billion per second across a 7 cm$^2$ active area, the detector achieves outstanding spatial and temporal resolutions of 5-10 $μ$m and below 50 ps r.m.s., respectively. The Timepix4 ASIC comprises approximately 230,000 pixels, each integrating analog and digital front-end electronics. This enables data-driven acquisition and supports data transmission rates up to 160 Gb/s. External FPGA-based electronics manage both configuration and readout. In order to test the timing performance of the Timepix4 ASIC we performed preliminary characterization of an assembly bonded to a 100 $μ$m thick n-on-p silicon sensor using a pulsed infrared laser, which demonstrated a per-pixel timing resolution of 110 ps, with cluster-based averaging methods improving to below 50 ps. Six prototype detectors incorporating different MCP stack configurations and end-spoiling depths were produced by Hamamatsu Photonics. We report on their characterization, including dark count rates, gain, and spatial and timing resolutions, assessed both in laboratory conditions and during a test-beam campaign at CERN's SPS facility. |
| title | Development and characterization of hybrid MCP-PMT with embedded Timepix4 ASIC used as pixelated anode |
| topic | Instrumentation and Detectors |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01886 |