2026/03/25 by Tanay Dey, Suraj Shaw, Ritabrata Banerjee +2
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.ins-det #hep-ex
Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are currently the most prevalent photon detection technology in modern experiments in high-energy physics, astroparticle physics, neutrino physics, and dark matter searches. The high detection efficiency for photons, excellent timing resolution, small size, and magnetic field independence make them ideal for precision measurements in low-light conditions. However, key parameters like breakdown voltage, gain, and dark count rate show a strong dependence on the bias voltage and temperature, requiring a systematic characterization. In this work, we present an open-source graphical user interface (GUI) for automated SiPM characterization, leveraging standard laboratory instrument communication protocols (PyVISA). The tool provides a free, open, and platform-independent solution for detector R&D and large-scale SiPM characterization, and is available at this GitHuB repository [1]. The analysis procedure is validated against the manufacturer's datasheet for the SensL MicroFC-60035-SMT, yielding results in good agreement for both breakdown voltage and dark count rate.