Investigating Single Event Burnout in Low Gain Avalanche Detectors: Comprehensive Analysis and Optimization for High-Energy Particle Physics Applications

Our research focuses on characterizing and optimizing Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) and AC-coupled LGADs for high-resolution timing applications in particle physics and related fields. These silicon sensors are crucial for addressing the pileup challenge in high-energy particle colliders and enabling precision measurements in future experiments but face challenges in radiation hardness and susceptibility to Single Event Burnout (SEB). Our study aims to characterize LGAD performance, radiation hardness, and susceptibility to Single Event Burnout (SEB) through comprehensive testing at Brown University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Sensors were irradiated at the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center to simulate high-energy collider conditions and then exposed to high-intensity beams of protons and ions at Brookhaven National Laboratory's Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. By analyzing SEB events and sensor failure mechanisms, our research aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of SEB in LGADs. The project also explores design optimizations to enhance SEB resilience while maintaining high performance in radiation-intensive environments. This work is critical for optimizing LGADs and will allow for more accurate event reconstruction, reducing background noise and improving the overall sensitivity of detectors.