Calibration prototype for the EUDET HCAL

Abstract

The electronics producing a few nanoseconds long LED pulses tuneable in the amplitude and the optical system distributing the LED light to scintillators by a single optical fibre are described. The properties of the LED pulses are controlled by a computer connected via a CANbus to the controller on the board. We produced a prototype with 6 LED pulse drivers placed on a 4-layer PCB with dimension 250 x 147 mm2. The pulse width is constant and 3 ns long. Its amplitude can be tuned from zero to 1.2 A. The pulse frequency can be set in the range up to 100 kHz. The LED light is distributed by a 1 mm diameter optical fibre. On the length of 2 m the fibre has every 30 mm a notch which flashes light with homogeneity of \pm20%. The system is foreseen for calibration of silicon photomultipliers embedded in scintillation tiles.