An INTAS (International Association for the promotion of co-operation with scientists from the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union) project coordinated by GSI was continued in 2008. New silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) developed by Russian scientists and manufactured by Zecotek/Singapore were delivered to SMI in autumn 2008 for evaluation. Our institute participates with a task concerning the studying the limits of SiPMs parameters for fast timing detectors. A dedicated test arrangement was setup at SMI to test SiPMs with Peltier cooling in a vacuum vessel. A picosecond laser system serves a pulsed light source for testing the timing performance.

The main objective of the project is the development of an ultra fast, low-cost, matrix solid-state photo detector based on the new SiPMs with high photon detection efficiency for a spectral range between 200-600 nm. The SiPM matrix will be combined with a scintillator‌/radiator array in order to demonstrate its practical application in low level 2D light detection. SMI is working on the evaluation of SiPMs from Zecotek and other SiPMs (e.g. Hamamatsu SiPM as reference SiPM) where important parameters like the noise as a function of temperature and the timing performance are studied in detail.

Some expected results of the project are: development of the SiPM matrix with characteristics needed for the light detection in experimental nuclear and particle physics, as well as for Cherenkov detectors and time-of-flight system applications in the PANDA experiment at FAIR/GSI; set up of laboratories for detector tests and education of experts as well as development of the laboratory infrastructure of the partner institutes from Russia.

The objective of the work to be done by SMI is the detailed investigation of SiPM parameters to demon­strate possibilities of using SiPMs in various applications. First results were presented in an INTAS meeting in Cracow (June 2008).