ePIC AC-LGAD TOF DSC Weekly Meeting

Thursday 26 Mar 2026, 19:00 → 22:13 US/Eastern

https://bnl.zoomgov.com/j/1617546118?pwd=qNzxLqF8Q4Mj3RerAZdVSELzEgEQzV.1 (zoom link)

Zhangbu Xu (Kent State University), Satoshi Yano

eic-projdet-tofpid-l@lists.bnl.gov

zoom link : https://bnl.zoomgov.com/j/1617546118?pwd=qNzxLqF8Q4Mj3RerAZdVSELzEgEQzV.1

1. Test Beam Updates

 

1.1 Japan Test Beam

• Test beam proposal submitted (pixel-type sensors, mainly for ZDC studies)

• Not directly part of TOF activity, but opportunity exists to include TOF-related measurements

 

⸻

 

1.2 SPS Test Beam (CERN)

 

Schedule:

• July 22–27 (5 days only)

• Shared in parallel with ATLAS HGTD

 

Key Constraints:

• Strong dependence on:

• EICROC0 availability

• Firmware readiness

 

Critical Decision Timeline:

• Mid-May: Go/No-Go decision

• Requires:

• Fully working setup

• Lab validation mimicking SPS conditions

 

Important Points:

• Sensor-only test is not justifiable

• Already sufficient sensor data pending analysis

• Must include:

• ASIC (EICROC)

• Ideally FCFD testing

 

Risk:

• If firmware is not ready → likely cancellation

 

⸻

 

1.3 Telescope Availability

• Requested but not yet confirmed

• HGTD expected to have priority

• Clarification pending from CERN contact (Martin)

 

⸻

 

1.4 Immediate Actions

• Communication with EICROC developers (firmware urgency)

• Simone to provide:

• PCB vendor information (company + contact)

• Needed to proceed with board production

 

⸻

 

2. Simulation Status

• No update (responsible person absent)

• Action:

• Follow-up next week

• John Lajoie to also contact directly

 

⸻

 

3. Recent Test Beam Analysis

• Analysis ongoing (DESY, KEK, RARiS)

• Preliminary results:

• “Looks promising”

• Presentation planned for next meeting

 

⸻

 

4. Belle II Collaboration / Synergy

 

4.1 Review Outcome

• External review strongly supports:

• Intermediate tracking + timing system

• Possible inclusion of AC-LGAD TOF layer

 

4.2 Implications

• Strong encouragement to:

• Continue simulation

• Proceed with TOF development

 

4.3 Collaboration Opportunities

• Joint activities between ePIC and Belle II

• Possible:

• Joint workshop

• Shared detector concepts (geometry similarities noted)

 

4.4 Upcoming

• April 10 meeting (Japan teams + Belle II)

• Possible workshop alignment with:

• EIC Asia meeting

• RRB-related travel

 

⸻

 

5. PED Funding & QA Infrastructure

 

5.1 Funding Availability

• PED funds available, but:

• Must align with project goals (P6 / FDR roadmap)

 

5.2 Key Constraints

• Avoid duplication:

• Example: multiple QC test stations not automatically justified

• Must demonstrate:

• Necessity

• Complementarity

 

⸻

 

5.3 QA Strategy Discussion (Important)

 

Topics raised:

• Required number of QA sites

• Throughput expectations during production

• Available infrastructure across groups

 

Concerns:

• Underestimating production/testing rate (historical examples)

• Personnel limitations (even if hardware exists)

 

Suggested approach:

• Define:

• Required testing rate

• Sensor volume

• Map:

• Existing capabilities

• Gaps

 

⸻

 

5.4 Action Items

• Add QA discussion to next meeting agenda

• Ensure key people (e.g. Mathieu) attend

• Define:

• QC workflow (probe station, TCT scans, etc.)

• Resource distribution

 

⸻

 

6. Sensor Production & Design (FBK)

 

6.1 Status

• New production underway (partially funded)

• ~1 wafer share:

• ~20 pixel sensors

• ~10 strip sensors

 

6.2 Urgent Issue

• Compatibility of pixel geometry with:

• Bump bonding

• EICROC pads

 

Action:

• Urgent confirmation needed from Mathieu

 

⸻

 

6.3 Bump Bonding Strategy

• Interim testing:

• Use 16-channel ASICs

• Full validation:

• Requires EICROC1 (expected in coming months)

 

Risks:

• Limited ASIC availability

• Potential yield issues due to high channel count

 

⸻

 

7. Sensor （4x32=128ch, 20um） Performance Study (Laser Tests)

 

Key Observations

• Strong signal (~70–80 mV) under strip

• Very weak signal (~10–20 mV) between strips

 

→ Poor charge sharing

 

Implications

• Explains weak signal in previous beam test

• Large strip pitch (~1 mm) problematic

 

Additional Observation

• Signal dip at strip center:

• Due to metal blocking IR laser

 

⸻

 

Next Steps

• Repeat measurements (laser focus issue suspected)

• Provide data for reconstruction studies

 

⸻

 

8. Next Meeting Plans

• Presentation:

• Test beam analysis results (Satoshi)

• Possible sensor updates (Simone)

• Dedicated discussion:

• QA/QC strategy

• Simulation update expected

 

⸻

 

Summary of Key Risks

• SPS test beam at risk

• Firmware readiness critical

• ASIC dependency

• Central to future validation

• QA planning insufficiently defined

• Needs immediate coordination

• Sensor design constraints

• Charge sharing and geometry issues

 

⸻

 

Main Action Items

• EICROC firmware readiness (mid-May deadline)

• Provide PCB vendor info (Simone)

• QA strategy discussion (next meeting)

• Confirm pixel geometry compatibility (urgent)

• Follow up simulation update

• Prepare test beam analysis results

19:00 → 19:20 Beam Test at Jlab and DESY and Japan updates?

KEK possible dates: 6/04, 05/28, 05/21

NO test beam at FNAL

Feb 19-25 at KEK, first week of March

JLab testbeam results:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O-Y1ByGy6GPxHMMKGyODMDPGZAW5nWI4/view
test beam facilities:
https://test-beam-facilities.web.cern.ch

paper out on irradiated AC-LGADs from last year: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.16658
We did another round of irradiation with neutrons on some AC-LGADs but at extreme fluence, plus another irradiation campaign with protons on the large AC-LGADs that should be ready soonish.
SEB studies from BNL: https://indico.global/event/14966/contributions/133281/attachments/63257/122069/SEB_CPAD_2025.pdf

Cheers,
Simone

19:20 → 19:40 FTOF hit occupancy?

19:40 → 20:00 NIMA special issue: "The ePIC Detector and Science Program at the Electron Ion Collider"

A shorter version of preTDR?

On Mar 11, 2026, at 1:26 PM, Silvia Dalla Torre Silvia.DallaTorre@ts.infn.it wrote:

Dear DSLs,

  the submission of papers to the NIMA special issue

"The ePIC Detector and Science Program at the Electron Ion Collider"
is opening on March 15th.

The DSC contributions are expected to be a substantial component of the effort.
Please, discuss the matter within your DSCs and prepare 1 slide that presents
the paper-planning of your DSC. Send me these slides by April 10th.

At the TIC meeting on April 20th we will analyze and comment together
about the merging planning.

Thank you for your kind collaboration,
Silvia