Hi,
I wanted to submit a (slightly) late abstract for TIPP this year. The indico site is now closed for submissions (I was working under the wrong assumption about the timezone for this deadline). Apologies for that. If there is still a chance to have it considered, my abstract follows:
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Extremely fast timing from Micro-Channel Plate PhotoMultiplier Tubes (MCP-PMTs) and multi-gigasample per second (GSa/s) waveform sampling ASICs will allow precision timing to play a pivotal role in the next-generation of Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors. We have developed a second prototype of the electronics to instrument the Time of Propagation (TOP) counter for the Belle II detector at KEK in Tsukuba, Japan. The front-end electronics modules consist of an array of waveform sampling / digitizing ASICs controlled by FPGAs with embedded microprocessor cores. The ASICs digitize amplified signals from an array of multi-anode MCP-PMTs coupled to a quartz radiator bar. Unwanted artifacts in the data are corrected with digital signal processing and feature-extraction on the front-end. Readout and control are done via multi-gigabit per second fiber optic links to a custom back-end.
A previous generation of these modules has been running in a prototype Focusing Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (fDIRC) counter mounted in a Cosmic-Ray Stand (CRT) at SLAC continuously for over 12 months. The most recent version was taken to a beam test at SPring-8/LEPS in Japan in mid-2013. These experiences have influenced the design of the next set of ASICs and PCBs for the front-end, and we will present details on the latest generation.
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thank you for your consideration.