Next-Generation Active-Pixel Sensor Devices With CMOS-avalanche photodiodes

Modern high-energy physics experiments that explore the fundamental properties of matter rely on large, sophisticated instruments for tracking particle decay events with large detector arrays. The performance of these instruments is limited by the available detector technology. Future progress depends on breakthroughs in the sensitivity, speed and signal-to-noise performance of the detectors. Phase I research successfully developed and tested many different pixel designs. Several different pixel and circuit applications were designed based on previously manufactured chips, but with the vertex detector application in mind. We have characterized the noise performance and sensitivity of CMOS APD pixels using several different types of radiation and selected the best designs. Phase II will were are concerned with transforming our test structures into fully functional detector elements with the appropriate processing and readout electronics integrated with large arrays of pixels. We investigated methods to increase the active area and reduce the noise while implementing an event-driven readout scheme to drastically increase the readout speed and simplify the data stream