Influence of radiation and AC coupling on time performance of analog pixels test structures in 65 nm CMOS technology

Abstract

Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) in advanced CMOS imaging technologies are key to next-generation tracking systems for high-energy physics, where radiation hardness and precise vertex reconstruction are essential. As part of the ALICE ITS3 R&D program in synergy with the CERN R&D, we evaluated the performance of the Analog Pixel Test Structures (APTS) fabricated in the TPSCo 65 nm CMOS imaging process. The prototypes employ 10 µm pitch pixels with a fast operational amplifier-based buffering stage at the output, enabling direct characterization of intrinsic sensor response. Beam tests with minimum ionizing particles assessed the timing and charge collection of DC- and AC-coupled designs, including devices exposed to 1014 1MeVneq/cm2 and 1015 1MeVneq/cm2 non-ionizing energy loss. DC-coupled sensors demonstrated stable performance, maintaining time resolution lower than 70 ps and >99% detection efficiency up to 1015 1MeVneq/cm2. AC-coupled sensors demonstrated a wide operational margin, with efficiencies above 99% for clusterization thresholds below 150 e-. Even though the AC coupling allows higher reverse bias than DC-coupled sensors, the reduced signal amplitude lowers the signal-to-noise ratio, increasing the jitter contribution. At high reverse bias, the AC-coupled sensors achieve time resolutions comparable to the DC-coupled version, demonstrating the viability of both approaches. These results also suggest that combining the low capacitance of DC-coupled designs with the high-bias capability of AC coupling could further enhance time resolution. These results confirm the suitability of 65 nm MAPS for future collider detectors requiring high radiation tolerance, efficiency, and timing precision.