Characterization of SiPM performance in a small satellite in low earth orbit using LabOSat-01

Abstract

In this work, the performance of SensL MicroFC-60035 SiPM devices was studied during a 1460-day missionin Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using the LabOSat-01 characterization payload. Two of these platforms, carryingtwo SiPMs each, were integrated into the ÑuSat-7 satellite (COSPAR-ID: 2020-003B). Analysis revealed thatthese SiPMs experienced an increase in dark current over time due to damage from trapped and solar protonradiation. The total ionizing dose received by the payload and the SiPMs was measured using p-MOSFETdosimeters, with a resulting value of 5 Gy, or a 1 MeV neutron equivalent fluence of = 5 ⋅ 109 n/cm2.The dark current was observed to increase up to 500 times. Parameters such as Gain and Photon DetectionEfficiency remained unchanged throughout the mission. These findings align with previous performance reportsinvolving different SiPMs irradiated with various particles and energies.