Characterization and simulation of the response of Multi-Pixel Photon Counters to low light levels

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.07.022
• Publication Date: 2011-07-26T04:57:05Z
• Authors: A. Vacheret; G.J. Barker; M. Dziewiecki; P. Guzowski; M.D. Haigh; B. Hartfiel; A. Izmaylov; W. Johnston; M. Khabibullin; A. Khotjantsev; Yu. Kudenko; R. Kurjata; T. Kutter; T. Lindner; P. Masliah; J. Marzec; O. Mineev; Yu. Musienko; S. Oser; F. Retière; R.O. Salih; A. Shaikhiev; L.F. Thompson; M.A. Ward; R.J. Wilson; N. Yershov; K. Zaremba; M. Ziembicki
• Keywords: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors; TK; Photodetectors; FOS: Physical sciences; Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); Scintillator; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; High Energy Physics - Experiment; High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex); 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Photosensors; 0103 physical sciences; Multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes; QC

15 pages, 25 figures. Work done within the T2K collaboration. Submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A<br/>The calorimeter, range detector and active target elements of the T2K near detectors rely on the Hamamatsu Photonics Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs) to detect scintillation light produced by charged particles. Detailed measurements of the MPPC gain, afterpulsing, crosstalk, dark noise, and photon detection efficiency for low light levels are reported. In order to account for the impact of the MPPC behavior on T2K physics observables, a simulation program has been developed based on these measurements. The simulation is used to predict the energy resolution of the detector.<br/>