  Medical applications, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and space
applications, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), are in need of
highly specialized ASICs. Weeroc, in collaboration with different partners, is
highly involved in developing a new generation of front-end ASICs. In the
context of a joined LIDAR project among Weeroc, CNES, and Airbus, Weeroc is
working on the development of Liroc, an ASIC for space LIDAR application.
Weeroc is also working on advancing ASICs for medical applications with
Radioroc under development and intended to be used for PET applications. This
study experimentally evaluates the time resolution limits of these ASICs in
different configurations, with some of the most recent silicon photomultiplier
(SiPM) technologies available on the market, coupled to different scintillation
crystals. The best single-photon time resolution (SPTR) was achieved using FBK
NUV-HD SiPMs with an FWHM of 90 ps with Liroc and 73 ps with Radioroc.
Furthermore, the coincidence time resolution (CTR) of Radioroc was studied with
different crystal sizes. Using a large LYSO:Ce,Ca crystal of (3 x 3 x 20 mm3)
with Broadcom Near UltraViolet-Metal in Trench (NUV-MT) yields a CTR of 127 ps
(FWHM). The best CTR of Radioroc was determined to 83 ps (FWHM) with Broadcom
NUV-MT SiPMs coupled to LYSO:Ce,Ca (2 x 2 x 3 mm3) from Taiwan Applied Crystal
(TAC).
