Determination of Self-Heating in Silicon Photomultipliers.

The main consequence of radiation damage on a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is a significant increase in the dark current. If the SiPM is not adequately cooled, the power dissipation causes it to heat up, which alters its performance parameters. To investigate this heating effect, a measurement cycle was developed and performed with a KETEK SiPM glued to an AlO substrate and with HPK SiPMs glued to either an AlO substrate or a flexible PCB.

Correcting the Non-Linear Response of Silicon Photomultipliers.

The finite number of pixels in a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) limits its dynamic range to light pulses up to typically 80% of the total number of pixels in a device. Correcting the non-linear response is essential to extend the SiPM's dynamic range. One challenge in determining the non-linear response correction is providing a reference linear light source.

Characterization of continuous-wave terahertz sources: laser mixing versus backward-wave oscillators.

The tunable, continuous-wave terahertz (THz) radiation generated by mixing of two near-infrared laser lines in an antenna-coupled photomixer is compared with the monochromatic beam of backward-wave oscillators. The electromagnetic radiation of the different THz sources is characterized with respect to intensity, linewidth, degree of linear polarization, angular characteristic, beam quality, and M(2) value. The results are discussed with respect to applications in THz spectroscopy and imaging.