Thesis

Silicon Photomultiplier technology to improve science for TeV wide-field detectors.

• Call:

  IDPASC Portugal - PHD Programme 2019

• Academic Year:

  2019 / 2020

• Domains:

  Astrophysics | Astroparticle Physics

• Supervisor:

  Pedro Assis

• Co-Supervisor:

  Michele Doro

• Institution:

  Instituto Superior Técnico

• Host Institution:

  Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas

• Abstract:

  In applications where fast response to weak photon signals are needed, Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are becoming a wide-spread solution, often providing optimal alternative solutions to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). One of the main advantages of SiPM is the low-operating voltage and low ageing, it's cost-efficency and the possibility of novel integrated designs, counterbalanced by small detector area of few squared millimeters. Combining SiPMs to provide larger sensitive area - as well as using optical light guides - is possible, provided a suitable electronics for precise time-alignment. A module with 16 SiPM units was successfuly designed at the University of Padova for ground-based Cherenkov Telescopes. We propose now to adapt this technology to the needs of the recently proposed LATTES detector. LATTES is a hybrid instrument composed of Water Cherenkov tanks and Resistive Plate Counters, aimed for installation in South America, to detect cosmic gamma rays from 100 GeV to 100 TeV, to study particle acceleration in astrophysical environments such as pulsars and active galaxies' jets. The candidate will participate in designing SiPM units and configurations, simulating their response, and testing them on prototypes. Results will be applied to simulate LATTES sensitivity to the emission from the ultrarelativistic jest of active galaxies. The activities will be shared between Lisboa and Padova (Italy) and would grant the successful candidate the title of Doctor Europaeus.