Silicon probing
Silicon Probing 
Silicon Sensor Probing 
We are in the process of probing the sensors delivered from
Hamamatsu and recording their I-V characteristics.
The voltage is applied to the backplane of the silicon and the
window on the inner guard rail is held at ground.
The voltage is raised in 10 volts steps up to 500V.  At each step
the sensor is allowed settle for 5 seconds.
We have decided to probe every 5th sensor (by serial number)
so that we examine at least one sensor from each wafer, while
at the same time minimising our chances of creating damage.
Results
As of 1st February 2000, we have examined 19 sensors.
All conform to the required specifications.
18 of the sensors have currents which are appoximately half that 
obtained in the faster tests by the manufacturer.
1 sensor has a current four times larger, though it experienced
break-down at the same voltage, and in any case 
was still within the specifications.
All sensors perform excellently and uniformly.
This 
screen dump  of output of the
test-stand display
for 13 sensors which were tested one after each other
shows the uniformity of the sensors.
In this magnified plot of the 
  I-V curve for
a typical sensor, 
extremely low currents are observed: at 500 volts, the current
is 55 nA.
The 
  
response of the slighty poorer sensor 
is still within spec.
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