Tests of a silicon photomultiplier module for detection of Cherenkov photons

Silicon photomultipliers, whose main advantage over conventional photomultiplier tubes is the operation in high magnetic fields, have been considered as position sensitive, single photon detectors in a proximity focusing RICH with aerogel radiator. A module, consisting of 64 (8×8) Hamamatsu MPPC S10362-11-100P silicon photomultipliers, has been constructed and tested with Cherenkov photons emitted in an aerogel radiator by 120 GeV/c pions from the CERN T4-H6 beam. In order to increase the efficiency, i.e. the effective surface on which light is detected, the potential of using light guides has been investigated.