Characterization of a detector chain using a FPGA-based Time-to-Digital Converter to reconstruct the three-dimensional coordinates of single particles at high flux

F. Nogrette (1) , D. Heurteau (2) , R. Chang (1) , Q. Bouton (1) , C. I. Westbrook (1) , R. Sellem (2) , D. Clément (1)

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Optique atomique
2 ISMO - Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay

We report on the development of a novel FPGA-based Time-to-Digital Converter and its implementation in a detection chain that records the coordinates of single particles along three dimensions. The detector is composed of Micro-Channel Plates mounted on top of a cross delay line and connected to fast electronics. We demonstrate continuous recording of the timing signals from the cross delay line at rates up to 4.1x10^6 per second and three-dimensional reconstruction of the coordinates up to 2.5x10^6 particles per second. From the imaging of a calibrated structure we measure the in-plane resolution of the detector to be 140(20) um. In addition we analyze a method to measure the resolution without placing any structure under vacuum, a significant practical improvement. While we use UV photons here, the results of this work directly apply to the detection of other kinds of particles.

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]

F. Nogrette, D. Heurteau, R. Chang, Q. Bouton, C. I. Westbrook, et al.. Characterization of a detector chain using a FPGA-based Time-to-Digital Converter to reconstruct the three-dimensional coordinates of single particles at high flux. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2015, 86 (11), pp.113105. ⟨10.1063/1.4935474⟩. ⟨hal-01179601⟩