Speaker
Description
Fast timing detectors are an essential element of a particle physics experiment. Fast timing provides an additional handle on the spatiotemporal distribution of particles that can be used to achieve effective particle identification, improved position reconstruction, and separation of spatially overlapping physics processes. Traditional timing detector methods are often constrained by upper limits on clock speeds for time-to-digital conversion, limiting resolution to 10s of picoseconds. While creative methodologies exist, they often add great cost and complexity to the frontend electronics. We present a design for integrating a Cherenkov radiator into a photonic device to perform time digitization before detection, building off of the Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector design. Utilizing materials and techniques developed for Lithium Niobate-based integrated photonics, we can achieve greater timing resolution than with traditional electronics methods alone, thus improving overall particle reconstruction and enabling new opportunities for particle reconstruction well beyond our current capabilities.