Multi-pixel Photon Counter for operating the tabletop cosmic-ray detector under loosely controlled conditions

Abstract

Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) has been recently emerged and realized as a great type of Silicon Photomultiplier to replace or compensate for the conventional vacuum-based Photomultiplier tubes. MPPC provides many striking features such as high electrical gain, outstanding photon detection efficiency, fast timing response, immunity to the magnetic field, low-voltage operation, compactness, portability, and cost-effectiveness. The report introduces and examines the electrical and optical characteristics of the MPPC under loosely controlled environmental conditions. Also, we report a measurement of the light yield captured by the MPPC when the cosmic ray passes through the plastic scintillator, demonstrating that such setup is suitable to build a simple, cost-effective tabletop cosmic-ray detector for educational and research purposes.