EICROC: an ASIC to read-out the AC-LGAD sensors for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC)

Abstract The ASIC EICROC is designed to read out the AC-LGAD detectors for the future EIC at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). These detectors should combine excellent temporal (20–30 ps) and spatial (≈20 µm) resolution, enabling a new generation of pixel detectors with precise time measurement. Designing an ASIC to read out the AC-LGAD detectors represents a significant technological challenge. The EICROC ASIC measures and digitizes the charge and the Time-of-Arrival (ToA) with a resolution of 25 ps, transmitting these data to the back-end electronics. The first prototype, EICROC0, was submitted using CMOS 130 nm node in 2022.