Latonova, V. et al, Bernabeu, J., Lacasta, C., Solaz, C., & Soldevila, U. (2023). Characterization of the polysilicon resistor in silicon strip sensors for ATLAS inner tracker as a function of temperature, pre- and post-irradiation. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1050, 168119–5pp.
Abstract: The high luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider, foreseen for 2029, requires the replacement of the ATLAS Inner Detector with a new all-silicon Inner Tracker (ITk). The expected ultimate total integrated luminosity of 4000 fb(-1) means that the strip part of the ITk detector will be exposed to the total particle fluences and ionizing doses reaching the values of 1.6 center dot 10(15) MeVn(eq)/cm(2) and 0.66MGy, respectively, including a safety factor of 1.5. Radiation hard n(+)-in-p micro-strip sensors were developed by the ATLAS ITk strip collaboration and are produced by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. The active area of each ITk strip sensor is delimited by the n-implant bias ring, which is connected to each individual n(+) implant strip by a polysilicon bias resistor. The total resistance of the polysilicon bias resistor should be within a specified range to keep all the strips at the same potential, prevent the signal discharge through the grounded bias ring and avoid the readout noise increase. While the polysilicon is a ubiquitous semiconductor material, the fluence and temperature dependence of its resistance is not easily predictable, especially for the tracking detector with the operational temperature significantly below the values typical for commercial microelectronics. Dependence of the resistance of polysilicon bias resistor on the temperature, as well as on the total delivered fluence and ionizing dose, was studied on the specially-designed test structures called ATLAS Testchips, both before and after their irradiation by protons, neutrons, and gammas to the maximal expected fluence and ionizing dose. The resistance has an atypical negative temperature dependence. It is different from silicon, which shows that the grain boundary has a significant contribution to the resistance. We discuss the contributions by parameterizing the activation energy of the polysilicon resistance as a function of the temperature for unirradiated and irradiated ATLAS Testchips.
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Bach, E. et al, Bernabeu, J., Lacasta, C., Solaz, C., & Soldevila, U. (2024). Analysis of the quality assurance results from the initial part of production of the ATLAS18 ITK strip sensors. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1064, 169435–8pp.
Abstract: The production of strip sensors for the ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) started in 2021. Since then, a Quality Assurance (QA) program has been carried out continuously, by using specific test structures, in parallel to the Quality Control (QC) inspection of the sensors. The QA program consists of monitoring sensor-specific characteristics and the technological process variability, before and after the irradiation with gammas, neutrons, and protons. After two years, half of the full production volume has been reached and we present an analysis of the parameters measured as part of the QA process. The main devices used for QA purposes are miniature strip sensors, monitor diodes, and the ATLAS test chip, which contains several test structures. Such devices are tested by several sites across the collaboration depending on the type of samples (non-irradiated components or irradiated with protons, neutrons, or gammas). The parameters extracted from the tests are then uploaded to a database and analyzed by Python scripts. These parameters are mainly examined through histograms and timeevolution plots to obtain parameter distributions, production trends, and meaningful parameter-to-parameter correlations. The purpose of this analysis is to identify possible deviations in the fabrication or the sensor quality, changes in the behavior of the test equipment at different test sites, or possible variability in the irradiation processes. The conclusions extracted from the QA program have allowed test optimization, establishment of control limits for the parameters, and a better understanding of device properties and fabrication trends. In addition, any abnormal results prompt immediate feedback to a vendor.
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Escrig, S. et al, Bernabeu, J., Lacasta, C., & Solaz, C. (2024). First test of energy response of the micro-vertex detection system for the WASA-FRS Experiments. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1064, 169392–4pp.
Abstract: The hypernuclei, which are nuclei that contain the quark s, have been studied for more than 50 years. Notwithstanding, the recent experiments using high-energy heavy-ion induced reactions have challenged their current understanding. The high multiplicity of particles generated in the reaction allows for the measurement of the interaction point of the primary beam with the target. Then, a micro-vertex detection system for the WASA-FRS Experiments has been developed. Several experimental tests have been performed with Sr-90 and Bi-207 beta sources and a 10-MeV proton beam at the CMAM tandem accelerator, and their results are reported.
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Neri, N. et al, Jaimes Elles, S. J., Libralon, S., Martinez-Vidal, F., Mazorra de Cos, J., Sanderswood, I., et al. (2024). Advancements in experimental techniques for measuring dipole moments of short-lived particles at the LHC. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1069, 169875–5pp.
Abstract: ALADDIN is a proposed fixed-target experiment at the LHC for the direct measurement of charm baryon dipole moments. The detector features a spectrometer and a Cherenkov detector, while the experimental technique is based on the phenomena of particle channelling and spin precession in bent crystals. TWOCRYST, a proof-of- principle test at the LHC for the proposed experiment, is planned during the LHC Run 3. Recent channelling efficiency measurements performed at the CERN SPS of bent crystals developed at INFN are presented, marking significant progress towards its realisation. The silicon pixel detector for TWOCRYST is under construction. It will work in the secondary vacuum of a Roman Pot positioned inside the LHC beam pipe. The design, construction and integration of the pixel detector inside the Roman Pot will be discussed, along with the design and perspectives for the proposed ALADDIN experiment.
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Mandic, I. et aI., Soldevila, U., Lacasta, C., Solaz, C., & Bernabeu, J. (2025). Unusual annealing of charge collection efficiency of silicon strip detectors, ATLAS18, irradiated to high fluences with 23 GeV protons. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1080, 170682–4pp.
Abstract: Extensive studies were performed on highly irradiated ATLAS18 mini strip detectors to evaluate their annealing behaviour. Collected charge was measured after several steps of annealing at 60 degrees C. For detectors irradiated with neutrons or low energy protons the collected charge exhibited a beneficial effect of short-term annealing which was followed by a decrease in charge collection efficiency at longer annealing times. After irradiation with 23 GeV protons to fluences above Phi(eq) similar to 1.2 . 10(15) cm(-2), the collected charge remained unchanged or decreased after the first few tens of minutes of annealing. Edge-TCT measurements indicated that this unusual annealing behaviour is related to the double-peak electric field profile in the detector. Mixed irradiation with 23 GeV protons and neutrons to fluences matching the expected in the upgraded ATLAS experiment showed this unusual annealing effect will not impact the operation of the ITk strip detector.
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