Measurement setup and procedure for the accurate determination of the gain and the breakdown voltage for Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) Arrays

Abstract

The silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is increasingly used in single-photon or few-photon based applications such as spectroscopy, quantum experiments and distance measurements (LIDAR). Also, it founds its niche in fast timing applications such as time of flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) and in high energy physics (HEP). In astrophysics, SiPM arrays find their use in the development of near-UV telescopes for the observation from space of the ultraviolet tracks (290-430 nm) associated with giant extensive air showers produced by ultra-high energy primaries propagating in the earth’s atmosphere with highest time precision. Accurate measurements of detected optical energy rely on the gain and breakdown setup of the SiPMs arrays, as individual cells in the array may require bespoken setting. The present paper presents methods for accurate determination of the breakdown voltage and gain for SiPM arrays.