Changes

=== Dark Box Construction ===

=== Dark Box Construction ===

Running this setup with a hybrid photodiode (HPD) module DEP PP0350 of [[:Image:S20photocathode_QE.jpg | known characteristics]] allows us to calibrate the light intensity. The SiPM detection efficiency can then be characterized relative to the HPD. The signal from the SiPM was clean enough to distinguish peaks corresponding to discreet photon (pixel) counts in the histogram signal integrals. Therefore, the gain of the SiPM was found independently of the HPD - the SiPMs were self-calibrating! The [[#SiPM_Measurements|measurements section]] below describes this feature further.

Running this setup with a hybrid photodiode (HPD) module DEP PP0350 of [[:Image:S20photocathode_QE.jpg | known characteristics]] allows us to calibrate the light intensity. The SiPM detection efficiency can then be characterized relative to the HPD. The signal from the SiPM was clean enough to distinguish peaks corresponding to discrete photon (pixel) counts in the histogram signal integrals. Therefore, the gain of the SiPM was found independently of the HPD - the SiPMs were self-calibrating! The [[#SiPM_Measurements|measurements section]] below describes this feature further.

Below are the diagrams of the dark box with the HPD and SiPM assemblies installed. A temperature controller system (TE Tech. [http://www.tetech.com/temp/tc24-12.shtml TC-24-12]) was procured, which operates by driving a Peltier junction based on feedback from a thermistor compared to voltage-specified reference temperature. It was [[:media:Tc2412calib.pdf|calibrated]] and [[:Image:TempControllerMounted.jpg|installed into the wall]] of the dark box via a custom-designed light-tight frame.

Below are the diagrams of the dark box with the HPD and SiPM assemblies installed. A temperature controller system (TE Tech. [http://www.tetech.com/temp/tc24-12.shtml TC-24-12]) was procured, which operates by driving a Peltier junction based on feedback from a thermistor compared to voltage-specified reference temperature. It was [[:media:Tc2412calib.pdf|calibrated]] and [[:Image:TempControllerMounted.jpg|installed into the wall]] of the dark box via a custom-designed light-tight frame.

==== Choice of Light Source ====

==== Choice of Light Source ====

The original LED available to the group was the blue QT Optoelectronics MV5B60. The calibrating this device with the HPD showed a very long decay of its pulse. Several more devices with larger wavelengths were procured and measured settling on a yellow LED (Fairchild MV8304) for its speed. The SiPMs were characterized with respect to one another and the HPD using this device. With a mean wavelength of about 590nm, this LED is near the peak of the SiPM detection spectra.

The original LED available to the group was the blue QT Optoelectronics MV5B60. Analyzing the pulses from the HPD illuminated with this device showed an initial spike in its light output followed by a tail with a very long decay constant. Several more devices with longer wavelengths were procured and measured.  We settled on a yellow LED (Fairchild MV8304) for subsequent measurements because it had no long tail in its light pulses. The SiPMs were characterized with respect to one another and the HPD using this LED. Its mean wavelength is about 590nm, near the peak of the SiPM photon detection efficiency curve.

By the time more detailed studies of the SSPM-06~ were initiated a fast enough device very close the the mean emission wavelength of the BCF-20 was found. This was the Agilent (Avago Technologies) HLMP-CE30-QTC00. Its time width is somewhat larger than the convenient 100ns window that is convenient for data acquisition (explained below), but accurate data can be derived by centering the window at the same spot for every trial.

By the time more detailed studies of the SSPM-06 were initiated, a fast LED very close the the mean emission wavelength of the BCF-20 was found. This was the Agilent (Avago Technologies) HLMP-CE30-QTC00. Its pulse shows a small tail in the light output that lasts for about 100ns, but this is fast enough to be contained in the 100ns integration gate used for these tests.

== Data Acquisition ==

== Data Acquisition ==

A Tektronix TDS 2024 (2Gsmp/s, 200MHz) is used to acquire the SiPM signal from its [[SiPM_Amplifier|preamplifier]], the response of which is well understood based on detailed [[MATLAB amplifier in detail|analysis and simulation]]. Since tens of thousands of waveforms are necessary to construct a clean histogram of collected charge, a fast PC based data collection system was necessary. The data export module installed on this oscilloscope allows RS-232 interface over which commands can be issued and data transfer requested. Unfortunately going above the baud rate of 9600 always resulted in lost bytes. At 9600 the 2500-sample waveform collected by the oscilloscope takes about 2-3 seconds to transfer. Since we are dealing with time windows of 1μs in which the unit is too slow to collect all 2500 samples (it was found to copy or interpolate between actual samples) it was resolved to just collect the first 1000 samples, corresponding to the first 4 divisions on the screen. The waveforms now trickled at one per second.  

A Tektronix TDS 2024 (2Gsamp/s, 200MHz) was used to acquire the SiPM signal from its [[SiPM_Amplifier|preamplifier]].  The response of the SiPM preamplier is well understood based on detailed [[MATLAB amplifier in detail|analysis and simulation]]. Since tens of thousands of waveforms are necessary to construct a clean histogram of collected charge, a fast PC based data collection system was necessary. The data export module installed on this oscilloscope allows RS-232 interface over which commands can be issued and data transfer requested. Unfortunately going above the baud rate of 9600 always resulted in lost bytes. At 9600 the 2500-sample waveform collected by the oscilloscope takes about 2-3 seconds to transfer over the serial link to the host PC. Since we are dealing with time windows of 1μs in which the unit is too slow to collect all 2500 samples (it was found to copy or interpolate between actual samples) it was decided to just collect the first 1000 samples, corresponding to the first 4 divisions on the screen. Under these conditions, the waveforms were collected at a rate of one per second.  

For the purposes of collecting integrals of waveforms (proportional to total charge collected per received flash) it was later found that the averages of the functions can be requested much faster, about 3 per second. This value times the window duration equals the desired integral!

For the purposes of collecting integrals of waveforms (proportional to total charge collected per received flash) it was later found that the averages of the functions could be automatically computed by the oscilloscope and then the results transferred much faster than the entire waveform, about 3 per second. This value times the window duration equals the desired integral!

Aside from the convenience of usable results within hours instead of a day, is the issue of avoiding systematic drifts. It was found that while higher statistics smooth out the histogram of integrals, there are also drifts, whether due to environmental variations over the course of a day or electronic effects. These drifts smeared the histograms, most of which already had a very faint sign of photon peaks. So, faster data acquisition also meant avoiding these drifts.

Aside from the convenience of being able to collect usable results within hours instead of a day, this speedup also minimized the problem of systematic drifts that occur during long runs. It was found that the higher statistics obtained during extended runs would sometimes be offset by the blurring of peaks due to slow drifts in the gain and pedestal.  Whether due to environmental variations over the course of a day or electronic effects, these drifts smeared the histograms, most of which already had a very faint sign of resolved photon peaks. So, faster data acquisition also meant reducing the effects of these drifts.

= SiPM Measurements =

= SiPM Measurements =