The front-end readout electronics for the PANDA Focussing-Lightguide Disc DIRC

One of the key detectors of the upcoming PANDA experiment for particle identification will be the Focussing-Lightguide Disc DIRC, based on a novel detector technique. It will use a fused silica disc as a solid radiator to generate Cherenkov light by the passing of charged particles. These photons will be transported by total-internal-reflection to the rim, where LiF crystals will be used to perform dispersion corrections. Focussing lightguides will map propagation angles to spatial positions on the surface of photon detectors. Fast single photon detection devices will be used to measure azimuthal angles and spatial positions, which can be used to reconstruct kinematic properties of the passing particles. The expected average interaction rate of 20MHz yields a photon detection rate of 1.3MHz, as it is foreseen to use 128 MCP-PMT, each with 32 channels, for continuous readout. Moderate timing resolution of 300 ps improves signal from noise separation. The readout design requirements for the Focussing-Lightguide Disc DIRC will be introduced. The current candidate for implementation of the front-end readout electronic system will be described and several alternative readout scenarios will be discussed. Finally, a summary and an outlook for further developments and tests will be given.