Design of the readout electronics for the Qualification Model of DAMPE BGO calorimeter

The DAMPE (DArk Matter Particle Explorer) is a scientific satellite aimed at cosmic ray study, gamma ray astronomy, and searching for the clue of dark matter particles, with a planned mission period of more than 3 years. The calorimeter, which is composed of 308 BGO (Bismuth Germanate Oxid) crystal bars, is a critical sub-detector for measuring the energy of cosmic particles from 5 GeV to 10TeV, distinguishing positrons/electrons and gamma rays from hadron background, and providing trigger information to the whole payload. In the calorimeter each BGO crystal bar is coupled by two Hamamatsu R5610A PMTs (photomultiplier tubes) from both ends respectively, while each PMT send out signals from three dynodes (2, 5, 8) to cover a large dynamic range from about 11 MeV to 2 TeV for each crystal unit. Thus 616 PMTs and 1848 signal channels are used in the BGO calorimeter. The large amount of detector components and signal channels, as well as large dynamic range requirement, greatly challenge the design of readout electronics, because of the confined area for PCB (Printed Circuit Board) layout and cable layout, the potential crosstalk between high density signal channels especially from dynode 8 to dynode 2, and limited power budget. Besides there are other particular requirements derived from hash space environment, such as good radiation tolerance, high reliability, etc. To conquer above challenges, a serial of methods are taken into the design. Two ASICs with low power consumption, low noise, high dynamic range and high integrity, named VA160 and VATA160, are chosen as the front end chips to read out the charge signal from PMT dynodes, and to provide fast trigger information. The Flash-based FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) from Actel ProASIC Plus family is applied, which is considered to be less sensitive to SEU (Single Event Upset) and more power-saving, compared to regular SRAM-based FPGAs. In order to estimate the performances of the ASICs and FPGA chips in radia- ive space environment, both single event effect (SEE) and total ionizing dose (TID) tests are conducted, and SEU and SEL (Single Event Latch-up) protecting measures are adopted, based on the test results. Right now the DAMPE mission is in QM (Qualification Model) stage, all the readout electronics for the qualification model of BGO calorimeter were successfully designed and produced in the end of year 2013. The DAMPE BGO calorimeter was later integrated at the beginning of 2014 and right now the environmental tests, such as vibration test, thermal cycling and thermal-vacuum test, have been performed. Currently the BGO calorimeter is under integration tests with other sub-detectors, and a beam test will be carried out at CERN, in the autumn of 2014.