Silicon Photomultiplier response model

The response of a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) is affected by afterpulsing, crosstalk, and saturation. Existing models for the SiPM response do not account for all of these effects and, therefore, these models are not sufficiently accurate for many applications. Here we present a model for the SiPM response that is generally applicable to light pulses with a finite, exponential decay. It accounts for the total number and the temporal distribution of the incident photons as well as the relevant SiPM parameters, viz. the recovery time, afterpulsing, and crosstalk, and their cross-correlations. The model is validated by comparison to measurements on a scintillation detector, showing good correspondence.