SiPM | Silicon Photomultiplier Readout

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Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs)
Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs)

SiPM | Silicon Photomultiplier Readout

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) provide a solid-state alternative to traditional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for reading out scintillation detectors. They are compact, operate at low voltage, and are unaffected by magnetic fields advantages that make them practical in many modern detector designs.

Key Advantages of SiPM Readout in Scintillation Detectors
  • Compact & Low-Voltage Operation — Small size and low bias voltage (typically 20–70 V) simplify integration into portable, battery-powered, or space-constrained systems.
  • Magnetic Field Immunity — No sensitivity to external magnetic fields, suitable for hybrid setups with MRI, particle accelerators, or other magnetic environments.
  • Energy Resolution Performance — Can achieve resolution comparable to PMTs, depending on the scintillator material, crystal dimensions, and SiPM array coverage.
  • Flexible Configurations — Array sizes and geometries tailored to application needs, from single-pixel to large-area coverage.
Available SiPM-Equipped Detector Designs
  • Miniaturized Sensors — Lightweight assemblies for low-payload UAV/drone platforms, handheld identifiers, or wearable radiation monitors.
  • Large-Volume Assemblies — Configurations such as 2×4×16 arrays for field gamma spectroscopy, environmental surveys, or portal monitoring.
  • Custom & Standard Options — Detectors paired with various scintillators (e.g., NaI(Tl), LaBr₃, CeBr₃, CLLBC, YAP:Ce) and front-end electronics optimized for specific energy ranges and count rates.

These SiPM scintillation detectors support applications including:

  • Portable gamma/neutron spectroscopy
  • Aerial radiation mapping and UAV-based surveys
  • Medical imaging and dosimetry
  • Environmental and homeland security monitoring
  • Research in mixed-radiation or magnetic-field environments

For details on SiPM array sizes, compatible scintillators, energy resolution data, or to discuss a detector configuration for your application, contact us or complete our brief detector survey form. We can help select the right SiPM-based readout solution based on your size, voltage, field, and performance requirements.

Features
Specifications
Accessories
Tech Resources
Media
Downloable Resources
Price List
FAQ

Overview

Silicon Photomultipliers are made up of arrays of micron sized self-quenched avalanche photodiode pixels operating in Geiger mode just above the breakdown voltage. When a photon is absorbed in a pixel, it in turn fires a defined charge. More pixels firing simultaneously thus implies a larger total charge pulse. SiPM elements can be combined into matrices and operated at up to 60 degrees C. In practice, SiPms behave differently than photomultiplier tubes in the areas of spectroscopic response and signal processing. The number of SiPms needed on a scintillation crystal depends on the requirements of the application. In many instances (especially with non-proportional crystals), coverage of only part of the scintillator surface area is sufficient to achieve the desired performance. SiPM detectors are available with a proprietary bias generator and preamplifier module that has been designed to internally correct the gain drift that results from temperature variations. These modules operate at voltages between 5.2 – 16 V and consume less than 30 mW.

Specifications

  • Low voltage operation (25-30V)
  • Impervious to magnetic fields
  • High gains (10*6)
  • Mechanically compact
  • Elements of 3×3 mm or 6×6 mm
  • Micro cell size between 25 and 50 um
ENERGY RESOLUTION EXAMPLES

Crystal size and type 

Energy Resolution (662 keV)

NaI(Tl) 32 x 25 mm

<8.0%

CsI(Tl) 25 x 25 mm

<7.0%

CsI(Tl) 35 x 51 mm

<7.5%

CsI(Tl) 48 x 35 mm

<7.5%

CsI(Tl) 51 x 102 x 406 mm

<7.3%

Thorium spectrum of a 51x102x406 mm CsI(Tl) SiPM detector

Accessories

Free Online Training Module – An Introduction to Scintillation Crystals and Detectors
Visit our Training page to access the module or for more information

Technical Resources

Effects of Polarity on High Voltage Bias of Photomultipliers – Tech Note
SiPM Readout Datasheet
Press Room – Scintillation Detectors: Attenuation Length Of Optical Emission
Press Room – Custom-Built Scintillation Detectors For Every Application
Press Room – Scintillator | What Are Scintillator Materials?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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What is the difference between SiPM and PMT readout methods?

SiPMs are an alternative readout method to standard PMTs. With respect to signal processing and spectroscopic behavior, SiPMs behave differently compared to standard PMTs. The elements are typically 3×3 or 6×6 mm and can be combined into matrices. For applications where a small crystal size and low voltage operations are required SiPM readout can be a good choice. The energy resolution and noise level achievable with SiPM readouts depend on crystal dimensions, scintillation material, and how much area is covered by the SiPMs

For larger scintillation crystals, it is important to strategically place as few SiPMs as possible. It is impractical to use too many SiPMs because the capacitive notice on the signal 

If you are interested in this readout method, please contact us  

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When were neutrons discovered?

See this article: https://www.berkeleynucleonics.com/december-3th-2020-history-neutron-detection

Downloadable Resources

Downloadable resources such as datasheets, firmware, software, drivers and products manuals. Alternatively, you can browse resources directly by visiting our downloads page.

Media

Playlist

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