NanoArduSiPM: A Miniaturized Integrated Platform for Scalable Scintillation-Based Particle Detection

NanoArduSiPM represents a paradigm shift in the ArduSiPM (Architected Detection Unit for Silicon Photomultipliers) roadmap, evolving from a standalone instrument into a high-density modular building block (36 mm × 42 mm × 3 mm, 7 g). This revision does not merely pursue miniaturization; it re-engineers the signal-processing chain to maintain high performance within a scaled-down footprint, enabling the transition from single-unit detection to scalable, distributed multi-detector systems. NanoArduSiPM is based on a three-layer architecture comprising an external scintillator and Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) detection module, a dedicated high-speed discrete analog front-end, and a System-on-Chip (SoC) for embedded acquisition and processing. The physical implementation adopts high-integrity PCB routing and rigorous isolation techniques designed to suppress digital–analog coupling, a critical requirement in such a compact form factor. This deterministic layout strategy provides the architectural foundation for time-tagging capabilities, currently under quantitative characterization, by addressing the fundamental sources of signal interference at the hardware level. Beyond hardware integration, NanoArduSiPM introduces the capability for extended firmware functionality, including event tagging via external inputs and the implementation of coincidence and veto logic. This framework supports the acquisition of multiple correlated histograms and allows multiple units to be interconnected on a shared SPI bus. By shifting from standalone operation to a coordinated, hierarchical architecture, NanoArduSiPM enables distributed detection schemes where event selection and correlation are handled natively within the system, reducing the dependency on external data acquisition electronics. The compact modular architecture, together with the high-performance discrete analog front-end and embedded data handling, makes NanoArduSiPM suitable for applications where low mass and low power consumption are critical, targeting applications such as space-based payloads, laboratory instrumentation, remote sensing, and large-scale distributed multi-channel detection systems. While no radiation-tolerance qualification of the complete system has been performed in this work, the microcontroller family used in the design is also available in radiation-tolerant variants, which may support future implementations targeting more demanding radiation environments.