SiPM and Plastic Scintillator Tile Test Bench for the ePIC LFHCAL: Experimental Setup and Python Simulations*

The LFHcal (Longitudinally-Segmented -Forward-Hadronic-Calorimeter) for the ePIC(Electron-Proton/Ion Collider) detector at the future EIC(Electron-Ion Collider) facility is a hadron calorimeter based on plastic scintillator tiles, which are read out by SIPMs (Silicon Photomultiplier) in a SiPM-on-tile configuration. 

The goal of this research is to build and exercise a SiPM+tile bench test setup for the LFHcal. We built a light-tight container for SiPM and scintillator tile characterization studies. I-V curves for various SiPM models were acquired and analyzed to extract their breakdown voltage. SiPMs were illuminated by short flashes of light to obtain single-photon spectra for gain characterization. Scintillator tiles made from various materials with different machining techniques were mounted onto these SiPMs. The light yield of these SiPM-tile assemblies could then be tested from their response to cosmic radiation.

A Monte Carlo, Python code was developed to simulate cosmic rays with a cosine square angular distribution. The goal of this simulation is to find the geometric efficiency and mean path length of the cosmic rays depending on the scintillator geometry.

This poster will present the work carried out as part of the CANDID summer student program at ORNL in summer 2023.