MUX Waveform Injection Test
Board Location: #102
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: electrical/computer
Session: 3
Aryanna Mendoza - Skyline College
My project is part of the development of new ionization sensors for next-generation particle physics experiments using custom readout chips known as “CRYO ASICs.” To ensure the effectiveness and dependability of these sensor modules during the research and development phases, it is essential to assess their responses under various conditions. One method involves using a customized “pulser box” containing a specifically designed Printed Circuit Board (PCB), which will have sensors/ various pads with SubMiniature version A (SMA) connectors, each connecting to different regions of the sensor module, enabling the testing process. The crucial component is to offer the ability to send test pulses over the full 2-dimensional sensor array. This allows us to evaluate the sensor’s reaction to point-like inputs at different points.
The pulser box is designed to function within a cryogenic environmental chamber, capable of reaching temperatures as low as -110°C in a nitrogen gas environment, replicating the conditions of liquid xenon without the associated expenses and logistical challenges. The current PCB design directly links pads to SMA connectors. Nonetheless, for a large array of test pads, using individual cables for each pad is impractical. Therefore, we propose employing multiplexers (MUXs) to enable a single input signal to be routed to multiple pads on the board. This multiplexing capability simplifies signal routing, improving the efficiency and scalability of the testing process. Through this MUX waveform injection test project, we aim to establish an effective method to evaluate the performance of nEXO sensor modules in cryogenic conditions, ensuring their readiness for implementation in the final experimental setup.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work is supported by the U.S Department of Energy Office of Science (Office of Nuclear Physics), under Award Number DE-SC0024677.
Faculty Advisor: Emilie Hein, heine@smccd.edu
Role: My role in this project involved designing and testing the customized PCB used in the pulser box to evaluate sensor module performance. I also focused on implementing the MUX waveform injection system, ensuring efficient signal routing to test the full 2D sensor array. Additionally, I conducted tests in a cryogenic environment, analyzing the sensor responses to point-like inputs and verifying the reliability of the CRYO ASIC readout chips under low-temperature conditions.