Introducing a Markov chain-based time calibration procedure for multi-channel particle detectors: application to the SuperFGD and ToF detectors of the T2K experiment

Journal of Instrumentation, vol. 20, pp. P10030

Abstract

Abstract Inter-channel mis-synchronisation can be a limiting factor to the time resolution of high performance timing detectors with multiple readout channels and independent electronics units. In these systems, time calibration methods employed must be able to efficiently correct for minimal mis-synchronisation between channels and achieve the best detector performance. We present an iterative time calibration method based on Markov Chains, suitable for detector systems with multiple readout channels. Starting from correlated hit pairs alone, and without requiring an external reference time measurement, the method solves for fixed per-channel offsets, with precision limited only by the intrinsic single-channel resolution. A mathematical proof that the method is able to find the correct time offsets to be assigned to each detector channel in order to achieve inter-channel synchronisation is given, and it is shown that the number of iterations to reach convergence within the desired precision is controllable with a single parameter. Numerical studies are used to confirm unbiased recovery of true offsets. Finally, the application of the calibration method to the Super Fine-Grained Detector (SuperFGD) and the Time of Flight (TOF) detector at the upgraded T2K near detector (ND280) shows good improvement in overall timing resolution, demonstrating the effectiveness in a real-world scenario and scalability.

Authors 87

1. S. Abe

   Institute for Cosmic Ray Research · Kamioka Observatory · The University of Tokyo

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, Kamioka Observatory, Kamioka, Japan

2. H. Alarakia-Charles

   Lancaster University

   Affiliation as printed

   Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom

3. Igor Genadievich Alekseev

   P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

4. C. Alt

   ETH Zurich · Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

5. T.Arihara

   Tokyo Metropolitan University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

6. S. Arimoto

   Kyoto University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

7. A. M. Artikov

   Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

8. Y. Awataguchi

   Tokyo Metropolitan University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

9. V. Baranov

   Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

10. Giles Barr

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom

11. D. Barrow

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom

12. L. Bartoszek
    Affiliation as printed

    Bartoszek Engineering, Aurora, IL, U.S.A

13. Lukas Berns

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan

14. S. Bhattacharjee

    Louisiana State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, U.S.A

15. Adrien Blanchet

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

16. A. Blondel

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

17. A. Bonnemaison

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

18. S. Bordoni

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

19. F. Cadoux

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

20. A. Cauchois

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

21. J. Chakrani

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

22. P. S. Chong

    University of Pennsylvania

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A

23. Angelina Chvirova

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

24. P Collard

    Lyon 1 Université · University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

25. M. Danilov

    P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

26. C. Davis

    University of Pennsylvania

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A

27. V. Davouloury

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

28. Yu. I. Davydov

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

29. A. Dergacheva

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

30. C. Domangue

    Louisiana State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, U.S.A

31. D. Douqa

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

32. T. A. Doyle

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom

33. O. Drapier

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

34. A. Eguchi

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

35. Gleb Erofeev

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

36. Y. Favre

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

37. D. Fedorova

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

38. С. Н. Федотов

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

39. D. Ferlewicz

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

40. Y. Fujii

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

    Affiliation as printed

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan

41. R. Fujita

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

42. F. Gastaldi

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

43. A. Gendotti

    ETH Zurich · Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

44. A. C. Germer

    University of Pennsylvania

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A

45. L. Giannessi

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

46. C. Giganti

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

47. V. Glagolev

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

48. Rémi Guillaumat

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Palaiseau, France

49. N. C. Hastings

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

    Affiliation as printed

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan

50. I. Heitkamp

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan

51. Jun Hu

    Kyoto University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

52. Coralie Husi

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

53. Atsuko K Ichikawa

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan

54. T.H. Ishida

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan

55. Alexander Izmaylov

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

56. Kohichi Iwamoto

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

57. M. Jakkapu

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

    Affiliation as printed

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan

58. C. Jesús-Valls

    European Organization for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

59. Julie Y. Ji

    Stony Brook University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University, New York, U.S.A

60. P. Jonsson

    Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

61. Chang Kee Jung

    Stony Brook University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University, New York, U.S.A

62. H. Kakuno

    Tokyo Metropolitan University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

63. V. S. Kasturi

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

64. M Kawaue

    Kyoto University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

65. P. T. Keener

    University of Pennsylvania

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A

66. M. Khabibullin

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

67. N. V. Khomutov

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

68. A. Khotjantsev

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

69. T. Kikawa

    Kyoto University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

70. H. Kikutani

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

71. N Kirichkov

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

72. A. Klustová

    Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

73. H. Kobayashi

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

74. Taisuke Kobayashi

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

    Affiliation as printed

    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan

75. L. Koch

    Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz, Germany

76. S. Kodama

    The University of Tokyo

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

77. А. О. Колесников

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

78. M. A. Kolupanova

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology · Institute for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Moscow region, Russia

79. Alexander Korzenev

    University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Section de Physique, DPNC, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

80. T. Koto

    Tokyo Metropolitan University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

81. Y. Kudenko

    Russian Academy of Sciences · Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology · Institute for Nuclear Research · National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Moscow region, Russia

    National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, Russia

82. T. Kutter

    Louisiana State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, U.S.A

83. Mario Louis Lachat

    University of Rochester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, U.S.A

84. K. Lachner

    University of Warwick

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

85. Menai Lamers James

    University of Warwick

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

86. David Last

    University of Rochester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, U.S.A

87. Matthew Lawe

    Lancaster University

    Affiliation as printed

    Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom