Overview of SiPM applications

Abstract

Multicell Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, or silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), have proven to be a sound alternative to other types of photodetectors in different fields and have advantages that can significantly overcome performances previously achieved, and enable new possibilities. SiPM development continues with the improvement of general properties, and the enhancement of determined characteristics to fulfil specific requirements for different applications. As the number of SiPM manufacturers rises, their properties improve and more possibilities for readout appear in the market, an increasing number of physics experiments tend to replace other type of photodetectors by SiPMs, or to employ them in innovative applications. SiPMs have been successfully applied or are being tested in numerous applications in high energy physics (in calorimeters for CALICE, in T2K or in Cherenkov detectors), in astroparticle physics (such as MAGIC or EUSO), and in medical imaging (for example in the combination of PET and MR imaging modalities or for time of flight PET).

An innovative detection module concept for PET

“…In addition, software algorithms for the cluster processor ASIC are being studied. Further tracking applications where the proposed block detector can be used include HEP and Astrophysics, where the use of SiPMs has proven to be extremely useful thanks to their excellent features and MR compatibility [14].…”