Development of a multiplicity discriminator for high energy physics experiments

Author

Randall Scott Smith

Date of Award

12-1996

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Electrical Engineering

Major Professor

E. J. Kennedy

Committee Members

T. V. Blalock, J. M. Rochelle

Abstract

A current output multiplicity discriminator for use in the front-end electronics (FEE) of the Multiplicity Vertex Detector (MVD) for the PHENIX detector at RHIC has been developed in the Orbit Semiconductor 1.2 µ CMOS, n-well process. Requirements for the multiplicity discriminator include low-power, small area, high speed and common threshold matching. Additionally the discriminator must trigger on input signals ranging from 0.25 MIP(20 mV for the detector) to 5 MIP. Frequency response of the discriminator is such that the circuit is capable of generating an output for every detector beam crossing (105 ns). One channel of multiplicity discriminator occupies an area of 85 µ by 530 µ and consumes 515 µW. Details of the design and results from prototype device testing are presented.

Recommended Citation

Smith, Randall Scott, "Development of a multiplicity discriminator for high energy physics experiments. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1996.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/10961