A module of silicon photo-multipliers for detection of Cherenkov radiation

A module, consisting of 64 ( = 8 × 8 ) Hamamatsu MPPC S10362-11-100P silicon photomultipliers, has been constructed and tested as a position sensitive detector of Cherenkov photons. In order to increase the efficiency, i.e. the effective surface over which Cherenkov light is collected, we have manufactured and tested suitable light guides. In addition to the increase in efficiency, it is shown that such light guides considerably improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The results of our measurements indicate that the performance of such a Cherenkov counter with aerogel radiator could meet the requirements of particle identification at the foreseen upgraded Belle detector.