The Electronics of the Readout Function

Abstract

As there is a close interplay between a detector and its electronics, both components have to be considered together when designing a detector for a specific application. In this chapter we will restrict ourselves to the analog front-end electronics, the part in which one tries to approach as close as possible the limits given by the laws of physics. Therefore, the problem of measuring charge will be addressed in some detail, after reviewing the working principles and properties of transistors. Special emphasis will be placed on noise minimization and on integrated electronics developed for the readout of semiconductor detectors.