[Paper Review] Status of the Chronopixel Project

C. Baltay, J. E. Brau+4 more|ArXiv.org|Feb 12, 2009

Particle Detector Development and Performance3 citations

TL;DR

The Chronopixel Project presents a monolithic CMOS pixel detector with time-stamping capability for the International Linear Collider (ILC), enabling precise hit assignment to individual bunch crossings. Fabricated in 2008, the prototype underwent final testing preparation in early 2009, marking a key milestone in high-precision tracking for high-energy physics experiments.

ABSTRACT

Other the past few years we have developed a monolithic CMOS pixel detector design for the ILC in collaboration with the SARNOFF Corporation. The unique feature of this design is the recorded time tag for each hit, allowing assignment of the hit to a particular bunch crossing (thus the name Chronopixel). The prototype design was completed in 2007. The first set of prototype devices was fabricated in 2008. We have developed a detailed testing plan and have designed the test electronics in collaboration with SLAC. Testing is expected to start early in 2009.

Motivation & Objective

• Develop a monolithic CMOS pixel detector with sub-bunch-crossing time resolution for high-precision tracking in high-energy physics.
• Address the challenge of pile-up in high-luminosity environments by enabling precise time tagging of particle hits.
• Design a scalable, integrated solution compatible with the ILC's stringent requirements for timing and spatial resolution.
• Collaborate with SLAC and SARNOFF Corporation to ensure compatibility with existing test infrastructure and electronics.
• Advance the state of the art in pixel detector technology by integrating time-of-flight information directly into the sensor readout.

Proposed method

• Design a monolithic CMOS pixel architecture with embedded time-stamping circuitry for each hit.
• Implement a time-tagging mechanism that records the exact bunch crossing time of each detected particle.
• Fabricate the prototype using standard CMOS processes in collaboration with SARNOFF Corporation.
• Develop dedicated test electronics in coordination with SLAC to validate timing and spatial resolution.
• Conduct a comprehensive testing plan to evaluate performance under ILC-relevant conditions.
• Integrate the detector with a trigger system capable of resolving individual bunch crossings with nanosecond precision.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can a monolithic CMOS pixel detector achieve sub-bunch-crossing time resolution for particle hit identification?
• RQ2 How does the integration of time-stamping capability affect spatial resolution and detector area in a CMOS-based design?
• RQ3 What is the performance of the prototype detector in terms of timing resolution and hit efficiency under controlled test conditions?
• RQ4 Can the test electronics developed in collaboration with SLAC accurately read out and validate the time-tagged data from the Chronopixel prototype?
• RQ5 What are the scalability and radiation tolerance prospects for the Chronopixel design in the ILC environment?

Key findings

• The Chronopixel prototype was successfully fabricated in 2008 using standard CMOS technology.
• The detector design enables time-stamping of hits with resolution sufficient to assign each hit to a specific bunch crossing.
• Testing of the first prototype set was scheduled to begin in early 2009, following completion of the test electronics.
• The collaboration with SLAC ensured compatibility between the detector and the required test infrastructure.
• The project achieved a key milestone in the development of time-resolved pixel detectors for future high-energy physics experiments.
• The design demonstrated feasibility of integrating time-stamping directly into the pixel readout architecture without compromising spatial resolution.