Implementation and Characterisation of Monolithic CMOS Pixel Sensors for the CLIC Vertex and Tracking Detectors

Different CMOS technologies are being considered for the vertex and tracking layers of the detector at the proposed high-energy e$^{+}$e$^{−}$ Compact Linear Collider (CLIC). CMOS processes have been proven to be suitable for building high granularity, large area detector systems with low material budget and low power consumption. An effort is put on implementing detectors capable of performing precise timing measurements. Two Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for particle detection have been developed in the framework of this thesis, following the specifications of the CLIC vertex and tracking detectors. The process choice was based on a study of the features of each of the different available technologies and an evaluation of their suitability for each application. The CLICpix Capacitively Coupled Pixel Detector (C3PD) is a pixelated detector chip designed to be used in capacitively coupled assemblies with the CLICpix2 readout chip, in the framework of the vertex detector at CLIC. The chip comprises a matrix of 128×128 square pixels with 25 µm pitch. A commercial 180 nm High-Voltage (HV) CMOS process was used for the C3PD design. The charge is collected with a large deep N-well, while each pixel includes a preamplifier placed on top of the collecting electrode. The C3PD chip was produced on wafers with different values for the substrate resistivity (∼ 20, 80, 200 and 1000 Ωcm) and has been extensively tested through laboratory measurements and beam tests. The design details and characterisation results of the C3PD chip will be presented. The CLIC Tracker Detector (CLICTD) is a novel monolithic detector chip developed in the context of the silicon tracker at CLIC. The CLICTD chip combines high density, mixed mode circuits on the same substrate, while it performs a fast time-tagging measurement with 10 ns time bins. The chip is produced in a 180 nm CMOS imaging process with a High-Resistivity (HR) epitaxial layer. A matrix of 16×128 detecting cells, each measuring 300 × 30 µm$^{2}$ , is included. A small N-well is used to collect the charge generated in the sensor volume, while an additional deep N-type implant is used to fully deplete the epitaxial layer. Using a process split, additional wafers are produced with a segmented deep N-type implant, a modification that has been simulated to result in a faster charge collection time. Each detecting cell is segmented into eight front-ends to ensure prompt charge collection in the sensor diodes. A simultaneous 8-bit timing and 5-bit energy measurement is performed in each detecting cell. A detailed description of the CLICTD design will be given, followed by the first measurement results

Belle II Technical Design Report

The Belle detector at the KEKB electron-positron collider has collected almost 1 billion Y(4S) events in its decade of operation. Super-KEKB, an upgrade of KEKB is under construction, to increase the luminosity by two orders of magnitude during a three-year shutdown, with an ultimate goal of 8E35 /cm^2 /s luminosity. To exploit the increased luminosity, an upgrade of the Belle detector has been proposed. A new international collaboration Belle-II, is being formed. The Technical Design Report presents physics motivation, basic methods of the accelerator upgrade, as well as key improvements of the detector.Comment: Edited by: Z. Dole\v{z}al and S. Un

Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics

The purpose of the workshop was to present results and original concepts for electronics research and development relevant to particle physics experiments as well as accelerator and beam instrumentation at future facilities; to review the status of electronics for the LHC experiments; to identify and encourage common efforts for the development of electronics; and to promote information exchange and collaboration in the relevant engineering and physics communities

Particle Physics Reference Library

This second open access volume of the handbook series deals with detectors, large experimental facilities and data handling, both for accelerator and non-accelerator based experiments. It also covers applications in medicine and life sciences. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the “Particle Physics Reference Library” provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A,B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access

Proceeding Of Mechanical Engineering Research Day 2016 (MERD’16)

This Open Access e-Proceeding contains a compilation of 105 selected papers from the Mechanical Engineering Research Day 2016 (MERD’16) event, which is held in Kampus Teknologi, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) - Melaka, Malaysia, on 31 March 2016. The theme chosen for this event is ‘IDEA. INSPIRE. INNOVATE’. It was gratifying to all of us when the response for MERD’16 is overwhelming as the technical committees received more than 200 submissions from various areas of mechanical engineering. After a peer-review process, the editors have accepted 105 papers for the e-proceeding that cover 7 main themes. This open access e-Proceeding can be viewed or downloaded at www3.utem.edu.my/care/proceedings. We hope that these proceeding will serve as a valuable reference for researchers. With the large number of submissions from the researchers in other faculties, the event has achieved its main objective which is to bring together educators, researchers and practitioners to share their findings and perhaps sustaining the research culture in the university. The topics of MERD’16 are based on a combination of fundamental researches, advanced research methodologies and application technologies. As the editor-in-chief, we would like to express our gratitude to the editorial board and fellow review members for their tireless effort in compiling and reviewing the selected papers for this proceeding. We would also like to extend our great appreciation to the members of the Publication Committee and Secretariat for their excellent cooperation in preparing the proceeding of MERD’16

Online learning of physics during a pandemic: A report from an academic experience in Italy

The arrival of the Sars-Cov II has opened a new window on teaching physics in academia. Frontal lectures have left space for online teaching, teachers have been faced with a new way of spreading knowledge, adapting contents and modalities of their courses. Students have faced up with a new way of learning physics, which relies on free access to materials and their informatics knowledge. We decided to investigate how online didactics has influenced students’ assessments, motivation, and satisfaction in learning physics during the pandemic in 2020. The research has involved bachelor (n = 53) and master (n = 27) students of the Physics Department at the University of Cagliari (N = 80, 47 male; 33 female). The MANOVA supported significant mean differences about gender and university level with higher values for girls and master students in almost all variables investigated. The path analysis showed that student-student, student-teacher interaction, and the organization of the courses significantly influenced satisfaction and motivation in learning physics. The results of this study can be used to improve the standards of teaching in physics at the University of Cagliar

Microelectromechanical Systems and Devices

The advances of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and devices have been instrumental in the demonstration of new devices and applications, and even in the creation of new fields of research and development: bioMEMS, actuators, microfluidic devices, RF and optical MEMS. Experience indicates a need for MEMS book covering these materials as well as the most important process steps in bulk micro-machining and modeling. We are very pleased to present this book that contains 18 chapters, written by the experts in the field of MEMS. These chapters are groups into four broad sections of BioMEMS Devices, MEMS characterization and micromachining, RF and Optical MEMS, and MEMS based Actuators. The book starts with the emerging field of bioMEMS, including MEMS coil for retinal prostheses, DNA extraction by micro/bio-fluidics devices and acoustic biosensors. MEMS characterization, micromachining, macromodels, RF and Optical MEMS switches are discussed in next sections. The book concludes with the emphasis on MEMS based actuators

OXIDE-BASED MEMRISTIVE DEVICES BY BLOCK COPOLYMER SELF-ASSEMBLY

Oxide-based memristive systems represent today an emerging class of devices with a significant potential in memory, logic, and neuromorphic circuit applications. These devices have a simple capacitor structure and promise superior scalability together with favorable memory performances. This thesis presents a study of resistive switching phenomena in HfOx-based nanoscale memristive devices, with focus on material properties and development of bottom-up approaches for the fabrication of structures with dimension down to the nanoscale. One of the main issues for practical applications regarding device variability is first assessed by doping hafnium oxide films with different concentrations of aluminum atoms. Testing devices are analyzed by physico-chemical and electrical techniques in order to define the effect of oxide doping on the device properties. In the following part of the thesis, the scalability limit is explored in very high density arrays of nanodevices produced exploiting a lithographic approach based on the bottom-up self-assembly of block copolymer templates. This technique allows a tight control over the size and density of the defined features, and the possibilities offered by block copolymer patterning are here discussed. Electrical measurements of the nanodevices are performed through conductive atomic force microscopy. The device variability is examined and related to the inherent oxide non-homogeneity at the nanoscale, while a non-volatile switching of the resistance of the nanodevices is demonstrated. Further, this analysis draws the attention to a crosstalk phenomenon occurring at the nanoscale in a continuous thin film geometry. This result suggests to select different system configurations. A promising technique based on selective reactions with one copolymer block is finally discussed which allows the direct production of oxide patterns from block copolymer templates avoiding a pattern transfer process. In conclusion, the results reported in this thesis highlight the high scalability potential of oxide-based memristive devices, providing a missing piece of information for the understanding and practical development of very high density arrays