Characterisation of the VMM3 Front-end read-out ASIC

This research project was conducted in the RD51 collaboration at CERN, which is involved in the development of micropattern gaseous detector technologies and read-out systems. One example in the broad range of possible applications of such gaseous detectors is the NMX macromolecular diffractometer instrument planned for the European spallation source (ESS) which is currently under construction in Lund, Sweden. For the NMX instrument neutron detectors with high rate capabilities, high stability and excellent spatial resolution are required. A group working in the RD51 collaboration at CERN within the BrightnESS project aims to fulfil those requirements using gas electron multiplier (GEM) detectors with Gadolinium foils as neutron converters [PFE]. In order to match the high rate capability of the detectors, new front-end read-out systems need to be tested and implemented. This project aims to understand and test the capabilities of the VMM3 as the front-end read-out ASIC for GEM detectors.