SiPM Smart Sensor based portable coincidence system for distributed field applications

A novel, low-cost, light-weight, portable coincidence system based on autonomous smart sensors using off the shelf Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and microcontrollers has been developed, which can detect radiation events, in particular charged particles such as muons. Innovative software techniques allow real-time self compensation and synchronisation of multiple smart sensors with an external GPS or a self-referencing clock, making the system suitable for surface and subterranean coincidence-based measurements. The modular and rugged design supports real-time coincidence as well as offline analysis, and permits easy scalability to multiple detectors. It is a viable option for a range of applications such as education and outreach, globally distributed cosmic ray coincidence systems, and background radiation detection in homes, industry and academia.