Development of Clustering Algorithm for Pixel Detectors for FPGA

Abstract

Modern pixel particle detectors allow possibility to determine coordinates of hit with high accuracy. Some of them, for example Medipix series detectors, provide possibilities to evaluate particle energy deposit. However, pixel detectors have a difficult problem of a dividing of the charge, appeared by interaction with hitting particle, into neighbor pixels. To compensate this effect the clustering procedure is used. The clustering procedure is the process of union of neighbor non-zero pixels. A cluster is a group of pixels with common borders. Sum of energy deposit in pixels of a cluster provide estimation of particle energy with higher accuracy. The clustering procedure usually operates with ready data saved on a computer what required a long time and big amount of memory. Here the clustering algorithm for FPGA to include in DAQ systems of pixel detectors is presented. The including clustering procedure in DAQ reduces amount of memory and time required for data processing.