A prototype study of the POLAR front-end electronics

POLAR is a multi-channel position-sensitive detector used for polarization property detection of gamma-ray burst (GRB) photons. We have designed a prototype of POLAR front-end electronics (PFEE) based on Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) with large dynamic range and low power consumption. The performances of PFEE are measured using a pulse generator and an alpha-ray source. The measured average Equivalent Noise Charge (ENC) and input signal dynamic range of the PFEE prototype are 6.7 fC (rms) and 9 pC, respectively. The results that are obtained show that the main functions of the PFEE have been achieved, making this prototype usable in future experiments.