Time resolution study for a plastic scintillator detector prototype readout by SiPMs for cosmic rays

New planned and in-development experiments for direct cosmic ray detection in balloons or satellites use plastic scintillators readout by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to provide timing information with resolutions in the order of picoseconds (ps)\,{AMS-100, ALADINO}. This information is essential for triggering, vetoing, or particle identification. Due to the particularly harsh environmental conditions these experiments are exposed to, it is important to investigate how such conditions affect the performance of the detector, especially timing information. In this work, we tested experimentally the time resolution response of a prototype TOF counter for temperatures ranging from -20 to 20 degrees Celsius.