Events Calendar

ECE PhD Thesis Defense: Ashley Antony Gomez

Title: The Boston Extended Amplitude Range (BEAR) IC For Energetic Particle Detection

Presenter: Ashley Antony Gomez

Advisor: Professor Brian Walsh

Chair: TBA

Committee: Professor Knepper, Ronald, Dr. Kanekal, Shrikanth, Professor Yazicigil Kirby, Rabia, Professor Semeter, Joshua.

Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Z7rM_G0AAAAJ&hl=en

Abstract: Solid state detectors (SSD) are used in the direct detection of charged energetic particles and X-rays in different environments ranging from nuclear physics experiments and medical devices on Earth to, satellites in space. Solar energetic particles (SEP) originate at the Sun and are energized and transported by physical processes such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. To understand these processes, there is a need for an instrument that can measure multiple species of SEPs over a wide energy range. ACSEPT (A Compact Solar Energetic Particle Telescope) is an energetic particle telescope concept made up of a stack of solid state detectors (SSD) that can measure H to Fe ions with energies of 2 MeV/nuc to 100 MeV/nuc. The range of detector systems are limited by the electronics, in particular by the first stage amplifier of the readout circuit which is usually an integrating amplifier like a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA). There have been different methods to try to extend the range of the CSA, including, multiple feedback capacitors, multiple gain settings in analog chain, and fast reset. The BEAR IC uses real-time switchable capacitors to extend the detectable range of the system. This thesis describes the design, simulation, fabrication and testing of two versions of the Boston Extended Amplitude Range (BEAR) IC. BEAR has a CSA that uses two switchable capacitors which are dynamically added in parallel to the detector to prevent the CSA from saturating. BEAR 1 was capable of measuring from 1.4 MeV to 1 GeV with a resolution of 41%. BEAR 2 was able to measure from 6 MeV to 4