FPGA-Based Real-Time Waveform Classification

For self-triggered readout of SiPM sum signals, a waveform classification can aid a simple threshold trigger to reliably extract calorimetric particle hit information online at an early stage and thus reduce the volume of transmitted data. Typically, the ADC data acquisition is based on FPGAs for edge data processing. In this study, we consider look-up-table-based neural-networks and address challenges of binary multi-layer neural networks' layout, footprint, performance and training. We show that these structures can be trained using a genetic algorithm and achieve the inference latency compatible with dead-time free processing online.

Design Space Exploration for Particle Detector Read-out Implementations in Matlab and Simulink on the Example of the SHiP SBT

On a very fundamental level, particle detectors share similar requirements for their read-out chain. This is reflected in the way that typical read-out solutions are developed, where a previous design is taken and modified to fit some changes in requirements. One of the two common approaches is the current-based read-out, where the waveform of the sensor output is sampled in order to later extract information from there. This approach is used in many detector applications using scintillation based detectors, including PET. With this contribution, we will introduce how we use Matlab in order to simulate the read-out electronics of particle detectors. We developed this simulation approach as a base for our ongoing development of software-defined read-out ASICs that cover the requirements of a variety of particle detector types. Simulink was chosen as a base for our developments as it allows simulation of mixed-signal systems and comes with built-in toolkits to aid in developments of such systems. With our approach, we want to take a new look at how we approach designing such a read-out, with a focus on digital signal processing close to the sensor, making use of known signal characteristics and modern methods of communications engineering. We are taking into account the time profile of an event, the bandwidth-limiting properties of the sensor and attached electronics, digitization stages and finally the parameterization of approaches for digital processing of the signal. We will show how we are applying the design approach to the development of a read-out for the proposed SHiP SBT detector, which is a scintillation based detector relying on SiPMs sensors, using this as an example for our modelling approach and show preliminary results.