The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results

N. Rubini; B. R. Achari; N. Agrawal; M. Alexeev; C. Alice; P. Antonioli; C. Baldanza; L. Barion; A. Calivà; M. Capua; M. Chiosso; M. Contalbrigo; F. Cossio; M. Da Rocha Rolo; A. De Caro; D. De Gruttola; G. Dellacasa; D. Falchieri; S. Fazio; N. Funicello; M. Garbini; S. Geminiani; M. Giacalone; D. Giordano; R. Malaguti; F. Mammoliti; M. Mignone; C. Mingioni; M. Nenni; F. Noto; L. Occhiuto; A. Paladino; D. Panzieri; L. Polizzi; R. Preghenella; L. Rignanese; C. Ripoli; M. Ruspa; U. Tamponi; E. Tassi; C. Tuvè; S. Vallarino; R. Wheadon

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results

N. Rubini^*
, B. R. Achari
, N. Agrawal
, M. Alexeev
, C. Alice
, P. Antonioli
, C. Baldanza
, L. Barion
, A. Calivà
, M. Capua
, M. Chiosso
, M. Contalbrigo
, F. Cossio
, M. Da Rocha Rolo
, A. De Caro
, D. De Gruttola
, G. Dellacasa
, D. Falchieri
, S. Fazio
, N. Funicello

M. Garbini, S. Geminiani, M. Giacalone, D. Giordano, R. Malaguti, F. Mammoliti, M. Mignone, C. Mingioni, M. Nenni, F. Noto, L. Occhiuto, A. Paladino, D. Panzieri, L. Polizzi, R. Preghenella, L. Rignanese, C. Ripoli, M. Ruspa, U. Tamponi, E. Tassi, C. Tuvè, S. Vallarino, R. Wheadon

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dual-radiator RICH detector of the ePIC experiment at the future Electron-Ion Collider will make use of SiPM sensors for the detection of Cherenkov light. The photodetector will cover ≈3 m² with 3 × 3 mm² pixels, for a total of more than 300k readout channels and will be the first application of SiPMs for single-photon detection in a HEP experiment. SiPMs are chosen for their low cost and high efficiency in magnetic fields (≈1 T at the dRICH location). However, since they are not radiation hard, careful testing and attention are required to preserve single-photon counting capabilities and maintain dark count rates (DCR) under control over the years of running of the ePIC experiment. We present an overview of the ePIC-dRICH detector system and the current status of the R&D performed for the operation of the SiPM optical readout subsystem. Special attention will be paid to the recent results of the beam test of a prototype SiPM readout plane with a large area consisting of a total of up to 2048 3 × 3 mm² sensors. The prototype photodetector is modular and based on a new EIC-driven photodetection unit (PDU) developed by INFN, which integrates 256 SiPM pixel sensors, cooling and Time to Digital Converter (TDC) electronics in a volume of ≈5 × 5 × 14 cm³. Several PDU modules were built and successfully tested with particle beams at CERN-PS in October 2023 and May 2024. The data were collected with a complete chain of front-end and readout electronics based on the ALCOR chip, developed by INFN Torino.

Original language	English
Article number	170890
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	1082
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890
State	Published - Feb 2026
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Keywords

CERN
Cherenkov
EIC
PID
SiPM
T10
Test beam
dRICH
ePIC

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

Cite this

Rubini, N., Achari, B. R., Agrawal, N., Alexeev, M., Alice, C., Antonioli, P., Baldanza, C., Barion, L., Calivà, A., Capua, M., Chiosso, M., Contalbrigo, M., Cossio, F., Da Rocha Rolo, M., De Caro, A., De Gruttola, D., Dellacasa, G., Falchieri, D., Fazio, S., ... Wheadon, R. (2026). The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 1082, Article 170890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

@article{63b0b6402d44440e8efb0494fca9414e,

title = "The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results",

abstract = "The dual-radiator RICH detector of the ePIC experiment at the future Electron-Ion Collider will make use of SiPM sensors for the detection of Cherenkov light. The photodetector will cover ≈3 m2 with 3 {\texttimes} 3 mm2 pixels, for a total of more than 300k readout channels and will be the first application of SiPMs for single-photon detection in a HEP experiment. SiPMs are chosen for their low cost and high efficiency in magnetic fields (≈1 T at the dRICH location). However, since they are not radiation hard, careful testing and attention are required to preserve single-photon counting capabilities and maintain dark count rates (DCR) under control over the years of running of the ePIC experiment. We present an overview of the ePIC-dRICH detector system and the current status of the R\&D performed for the operation of the SiPM optical readout subsystem. Special attention will be paid to the recent results of the beam test of a prototype SiPM readout plane with a large area consisting of a total of up to 2048 3 {\texttimes} 3 mm2 sensors. The prototype photodetector is modular and based on a new EIC-driven photodetection unit (PDU) developed by INFN, which integrates 256 SiPM pixel sensors, cooling and Time to Digital Converter (TDC) electronics in a volume of ≈5 {\texttimes} 5 {\texttimes} 14 cm3. Several PDU modules were built and successfully tested with particle beams at CERN-PS in October 2023 and May 2024. The data were collected with a complete chain of front-end and readout electronics based on the ALCOR chip, developed by INFN Torino.",

keywords = "CERN, Cherenkov, EIC, PID, SiPM, T10, Test beam, dRICH, ePIC",

author = "N. Rubini and Achari, \{B. R.\} and N. Agrawal and M. Alexeev and C. Alice and P. Antonioli and C. Baldanza and L. Barion and A. Caliv{\`a} and M. Capua and M. Chiosso and M. Contalbrigo and F. Cossio and \{Da Rocha Rolo\}, M. and \{De Caro\}, A. and \{De Gruttola\}, D. and G. Dellacasa and D. Falchieri and S. Fazio and N. Funicello and M. Garbini and S. Geminiani and M. Giacalone and D. Giordano and R. Malaguti and F. Mammoliti and M. Mignone and C. Mingioni and M. Nenni and F. Noto and L. Occhiuto and A. Paladino and D. Panzieri and L. Polizzi and R. Preghenella and L. Rignanese and C. Ripoli and M. Ruspa and U. Tamponi and E. Tassi and C. Tuv{\`e} and S. Vallarino and R. Wheadon",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890",

language = "English",

volume = "1082",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",

issn = "0168-9002",

publisher = "Elsevier BV",

}

Rubini, N, Achari, BR, Agrawal, N, Alexeev, M, Alice, C, Antonioli, P, Baldanza, C, Barion, L, Calivà, A, Capua, M, Chiosso, M, Contalbrigo, M, Cossio, F, Da Rocha Rolo, M, De Caro, A, De Gruttola, D, Dellacasa, G, Falchieri, D, Fazio, S, Funicello, N, Garbini, M, Geminiani, S, Giacalone, M, Giordano, D, Malaguti, R, Mammoliti, F, Mignone, M, Mingioni, C, Nenni, M, Noto, F, Occhiuto, L, Paladino, A, Panzieri, D, Polizzi, L, Preghenella, R, Rignanese, L, Ripoli, C, Ruspa, M, Tamponi, U, Tassi, E, Tuvè, C, Vallarino, S & Wheadon, R 2026, 'The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 1082, 170890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results. / Rubini, N.; Achari, B. R.; Agrawal, N. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 1082, 170890, 02.2026.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC

T2 - Overview and beam test results

AU - Rubini, N.

AU - Achari, B. R.

AU - Agrawal, N.

AU - Alexeev, M.

AU - Alice, C.

AU - Antonioli, P.

AU - Baldanza, C.

AU - Barion, L.

AU - Calivà, A.

AU - Capua, M.

AU - Chiosso, M.

AU - Contalbrigo, M.

AU - Cossio, F.

AU - Da Rocha Rolo, M.

AU - De Caro, A.

AU - De Gruttola, D.

AU - Dellacasa, G.

AU - Falchieri, D.

AU - Fazio, S.

AU - Funicello, N.

AU - Garbini, M.

AU - Geminiani, S.

AU - Giacalone, M.

AU - Giordano, D.

AU - Malaguti, R.

AU - Mammoliti, F.

AU - Mignone, M.

AU - Mingioni, C.

AU - Nenni, M.

AU - Noto, F.

AU - Occhiuto, L.

AU - Paladino, A.

AU - Panzieri, D.

AU - Polizzi, L.

AU - Preghenella, R.

AU - Rignanese, L.

AU - Ripoli, C.

AU - Ruspa, M.

AU - Tamponi, U.

AU - Tassi, E.

AU - Tuvè, C.

AU - Vallarino, S.

AU - Wheadon, R.

PY - 2026/2

Y1 - 2026/2

N2 - The dual-radiator RICH detector of the ePIC experiment at the future Electron-Ion Collider will make use of SiPM sensors for the detection of Cherenkov light. The photodetector will cover ≈3 m2 with 3 × 3 mm2 pixels, for a total of more than 300k readout channels and will be the first application of SiPMs for single-photon detection in a HEP experiment. SiPMs are chosen for their low cost and high efficiency in magnetic fields (≈1 T at the dRICH location). However, since they are not radiation hard, careful testing and attention are required to preserve single-photon counting capabilities and maintain dark count rates (DCR) under control over the years of running of the ePIC experiment. We present an overview of the ePIC-dRICH detector system and the current status of the R&D performed for the operation of the SiPM optical readout subsystem. Special attention will be paid to the recent results of the beam test of a prototype SiPM readout plane with a large area consisting of a total of up to 2048 3 × 3 mm2 sensors. The prototype photodetector is modular and based on a new EIC-driven photodetection unit (PDU) developed by INFN, which integrates 256 SiPM pixel sensors, cooling and Time to Digital Converter (TDC) electronics in a volume of ≈5 × 5 × 14 cm3. Several PDU modules were built and successfully tested with particle beams at CERN-PS in October 2023 and May 2024. The data were collected with a complete chain of front-end and readout electronics based on the ALCOR chip, developed by INFN Torino.

AB - The dual-radiator RICH detector of the ePIC experiment at the future Electron-Ion Collider will make use of SiPM sensors for the detection of Cherenkov light. The photodetector will cover ≈3 m2 with 3 × 3 mm2 pixels, for a total of more than 300k readout channels and will be the first application of SiPMs for single-photon detection in a HEP experiment. SiPMs are chosen for their low cost and high efficiency in magnetic fields (≈1 T at the dRICH location). However, since they are not radiation hard, careful testing and attention are required to preserve single-photon counting capabilities and maintain dark count rates (DCR) under control over the years of running of the ePIC experiment. We present an overview of the ePIC-dRICH detector system and the current status of the R&D performed for the operation of the SiPM optical readout subsystem. Special attention will be paid to the recent results of the beam test of a prototype SiPM readout plane with a large area consisting of a total of up to 2048 3 × 3 mm2 sensors. The prototype photodetector is modular and based on a new EIC-driven photodetection unit (PDU) developed by INFN, which integrates 256 SiPM pixel sensors, cooling and Time to Digital Converter (TDC) electronics in a volume of ≈5 × 5 × 14 cm3. Several PDU modules were built and successfully tested with particle beams at CERN-PS in October 2023 and May 2024. The data were collected with a complete chain of front-end and readout electronics based on the ALCOR chip, developed by INFN Torino.

KW - CERN

KW - Cherenkov

KW - EIC

KW - PID

KW - SiPM

KW - T10

KW - Test beam

KW - dRICH

KW - ePIC

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013159954

U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2025.170890

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105013159954

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 1082

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

M1 - 170890

ER -

The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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