Towards High-Efficiency Particle Detection Using Superconducting Microwire Arrays

Abstract

We present a detailed study of an 8-channel $1\times1$~mm$^{2}$ WSi superconducting microwire single photon detector (SMSPD) array exposed to 120~GeV hadron beam and 120~GeV muon beam at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron H6 beamline. Following up on our first detailed characterization of the efficiency and response of an SMSPD fabricated on a 3~nm WSi film, we report measurements of enhanced particle detection efficiency using a sensor fabricated from a thicker 4.7~nm-thick WSi film. We also report the first SMSPD detection efficiency measurement made for muons. Measurements are enabled by a silicon tracking telescope providing 10~$\mu$m in situ spatial resolution. The results show a detection efficiency of 75\% and a time resolution of about 130~ps across pixels. These findings represent a significant advancement toward developing high-efficiency SMSPD charged particle tracking systems with simultaneous precision timing, with potential applications in future accelerator-based experiments such as the FCC-ee and Muon Collider.