Laser-based calibration for the HARP time of flight system

Author

Bonesini, M. ; Ferri, F. ; Govoni, P. ; Paganoni, M. ; Parravicini, A. ; Tonazzo, A. ; Andreoni, A. ; Bondani, M. ; Paleari, F. ; Spinelli, A.S. ; Gibin, D. ; Guglielmi, A. ; Menegolli, A.

Author_Institution

Dipt. di Fisica G. Occhialini, INFN, Milano, Italy

Volume

50

Issue

4

fYear

2003

Firstpage

1053

Lastpage

1058

Abstract

A precise calibration and monitoring system has been developed for the HARP experiment scintillator-based time of flight system. An Nd-YAG laser with passive Q-switch and active/passive mode-locking and a custom-made laser light injection system based on a bundle of IR monomode optical fibers were used. The laser pulse timing was provided by a novel ultrafast InGaAs MSM photodiode, with 30 ps risetime. Experience over a several month data taking period in 2001 and 2002 shows that drifts in timing down to about 70 ps can be traced.

Keywords

calibration; photodiodes; scintillation counters; solid lasers; timing; 70 ps; HARP; InGaAs; InGaAs MSM photodiode; Nd-YAG; Nd-YAG laser; Nd-YAl5O12; active/passive mode-locking; calibration; laser pulse timing; passive Q-switch; scintillation detector; time of flight system; timing; Bonding; Calibration; Fiber lasers; Free electron lasers; Laser mode locking; Neutrino sources; Optical pulses; Radiation detectors; Time measurement; Timing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2003.814545

Filename

1221921