SiPM Photon Detection Performance Analysis And High-precision Multiphoton Detection Research

The SiPM, Silicon Photomultiplier Array, is a new type of semiconductor photon-counting detector consisting of hundreds of Si-APD (Silicon avalanche photodiode) microcells operated in Geiger mode. Each microcell is made up of quenching resistor in series, all microcells are electrically connected in parallel. The SiPM has become well recognized photon-counting device due to its rapid rate for photon response, excellent photon number resolution at room temperature, high photon detection efficiency, and which also possesses great advantages such as low operating voltages, insensitivity to magnetic fields and robustness. And then, the SiPM has wide application prospects in weak fluorescence detection, nuclear medicine (gamma cameras, Positron Emission Tomography systems), DNA Sequencing, high energy physics (particle calorimeters, Cherenkov telescopes, and imaging arrays) and astronomy. Some relevant scientific research has been done for the single photon detection performance and application of the SiPM at home and broad so far, but for the photon number scale of several to more than a dozen, there is little further study on the photon detection of the SiPM. Therefore, in order to further study the photon detection characteristics and the statistical analysis of accurate multi-photons detection will be the focus work of this article.This work is based on the Hamamatsu S10362-11-050U SiPM, and beginning with its microcell structure and operating principle, we have studied and analyzed the multi-photons detection performance, and then through lots of experiments and resulting data statistics analysis, developed the SiPM based mathematical multi-photons detection models with light pulse, and also precisely calculated the number of multi-photons. Specific work includes the follows:Firstly, studied the structure of the S10362-11-050U SiPM and analyzed the operating principle in Geiger mode, established the equivalent circuit model of the microcell, and made a detailed analysis of key parameters.Secondly, designed circuit schematic, PCB of the SiPM testing system, set the SiPM dark counts testing system, through a lot of tested data, the dark counts waveforms were used for statistics and analyses. As a result, presented a theoretical basis for the subsequent high-precision multi-photons counting detection.Thirdly, based on the SiPM, we analyzed and studied high-precision multi-photons detection for laser pulse signal. Used the laser pulse as the excitation source and designed the multi-photons testing system. On the one hand, statistical analysis of test data, established the basic Sum of Gaussian distribution mathematical model; On the other hand according to the distribution characteristics of coherent light source, based on the SiPM multi-photons probability distribution, designed the Poisson distribution mathematical model, and according to the two kinds of mathematical models, matched up with the raw tested data, then presented the fitting results. At last, combined with theoretical derivation and experimental data to compute the contained photon numbers in the laser pulse, and calculated relative mean square error RMSE of the two mathematical models to make a comparison.Finally, Analysis and discussion were mainly focused on the SiPM based multi-photons detection about nanosecond pulse optical signal of the LED. First of all, in order to improve the modulation rate of InGaN/GaN based LED, and shorten the response time for current pulse, then designed the nanosecond pulse LED driver. On the basis of related theories, the rise and fall time of optical pulse signal is related to the current intensity. Utilizing current peaking and carrier sweep-out effect, proposed a narrow nanosecond pulse driver for the LED with a high-speed MOSFET. Then according to the presented LED driver, designed the SiPM based multi-photons detection system for LED nanosecond pulse optical signal, through a large number of experimental data based on Gaussian fitting and theoretical analysis, under different high level of the LED driver, the multi-photons distribution was statistically analyzed, and the photon numbers were calculated.