Trajectory sensor and readout electronics of a cosmic dust telescope [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by André Srowig

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural Sciencespresented byDipl.-Phys. Andre Srowigborn in Ulm, GermanyOral examination: 16.2.2005Trajectory Sensor and Readout Electronicsof a Cosmic Dust TelescopeReferees: Prof. Eberhard GrunProf. Volker LindenstruthAbstractAn Application Speci c Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is devel-oped for the processing of electrostatic signals from a trajec-tory sensor for cosmic dust. The detector is assembled ofmultiple wire electrodes which allow the determination of di-rection, speed and charge of cosmic dust. The circuit consistsof two units, a low noise charge sensitive ampli er optimizedfor a speci ed detector capacitance and a multi-channel digi-tal transient recorder. The last converts analog signals on 32channels and bu ers the data in a static memory. A controllercoordinates the recording of the data and the serial readout ona trigger event. The two units are operated in a mixed-signalnetwork performing a transient recording of a multi-channellow noise charge measurement. Physical separation of the in-dividual front-end ampli ers allows the optimization of thedetector capacitances. Circuit design and simulation, as wellas successful system tests are presented.