An efficient, FPGA-based, cluster detection algorithm implementation for a strip detector readout system in a Time Projection Chamber polarimeter

Kyle J. Gregory; Joanne E. Hill; J. Kevin Black; Wayne H. Baumgartner; Keith Jahoda

doi:10.1117/12.2222800

4 May 2016 An efficient, FPGA-based, cluster detection algorithm implementation for a strip detector readout system in a Time Projection Chamber polarimeter

Kyle J. Gregory, Joanne E. Hill, J. Kevin Black, Wayne H. Baumgartner, Keith Jahoda

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9853, Polarization: Measurement, Analysis, and Remote Sensing XII; 98530Z (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2222800
Event: SPIE Commercial + Scientific Sensing and Imaging, 2016, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

A fundamental challenge in a spaceborne application of a gas-based Time Projection Chamber (TPC) for observation of X-ray polarization is handling the large amount of data collected. The TPC polarimeter described uses the APV-25 Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to readout a strip detector. Two dimensional photo- electron track images are created with a time projection technique and used to determine the polarization of the incident X-rays. The detector produces a 128x30 pixel image per photon interaction with each pixel registering 12 bits of collected charge. This creates challenging requirements for data storage and downlink bandwidth with only a modest incidence of photons and can have a significant impact on the overall mission cost. An approach is described for locating and isolating the photoelectron track within the detector image, yielding a much smaller data product, typically between 8x8 pixels and 20x20 pixels. This approach is implemented using a Microsemi RT-ProASIC3-3000 Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), clocked at 20 MHz and utilizing 10.7k logic gates (14% of FPGA), 20 Block RAMs (17% of FPGA), and no external RAM. Results will be presented, demonstrating successful photoelectron track cluster detection with minimal impact to detector dead-time.

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Kyle J. Gregory, Joanne E. Hill, J. Kevin Black, Wayne H. Baumgartner, and Keith Jahoda "An efficient, FPGA-based, cluster detection algorithm implementation for a strip detector readout system in a Time Projection Chamber polarimeter", Proc. SPIE 9853, Polarization: Measurement, Analysis, and Remote Sensing XII, 98530Z (4 May 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2222800

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KEYWORDS

Field programmable gate arrays

Sensors

Polarimetry

Signal processing

Polarization

Image processing

X-rays

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