Design of the Readout Electronics for the TRIDENT Pathfinder Experiment

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 70; no. 9; p. 1
• Main Authors: Wang, M. X., Gong, G. H., Miao, P., Sun, Z. Y., Tang, J. N., Wu, W. H., Xu, D. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.09.2023; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Cameras; Data acquisition; Data processing; Data transmission; Deep sea; Deep sea environments; Design; Detectors; Digital signal processing; Electronics; Emitters; In situ measurement; Light emitting diodes; marine technology; Modules; Neutrino sources; Neutrinos; optical measurements; Optical properties; Optical pulses; Optical variables measurement; Photomultiplier tubes; Photons; Readout electronics; real time systems; Sea measurements; Seawater; Signal processing; Telescopes; Water properties
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2023.3302320

The tRopIcal DEep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT) is a future large-scale next-generation neutrino telescope. In September 2021, the TRIDENT pathfinder experiment (TRIDENT EXplorer, T-REX for short) completed in-situ measurements of deep-sea water properties in the South China Sea. The T-REX apparatus integrates two independent and complementary systems, a photomultiplier tube and a camera system, to measure the optical and radioactive properties of the deep-sea water. One light emitter module and two light receiver modules were deployed, which were synchronized by using White Rabbit technology. The light emitter module generates nanosecond-width light-emitting diode pulses, while the light receiver module hosts three photomultiplier tubes and a camera to detect photons. The submerged apparatus and the data acquisition system perform real-time command and data transmission. We report the design and performance of the readout electronics for T-REX, including hardware modules, firmware design for digital signal processing, and host-computer software.