Quality assurance test and failure analysis of SiPM arrays of GECAM satellites

Background The Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) satellite developed a SiPM-based gamma-ray detector to monitor the gravitational wave-related GRBs and guide subsequent observations in other wavelengths of EM.
Purpose As all the available SiPM devices belong to commercial grade, quality assurance tests need to be performed in accordance with the aerospace specifications.
Methods In the SiPM application of GECAM, quality assurance experiments were conducted. The mechanism of the failure of SiPM devices was analyzed during the development process.
Result Based on the quality assurance test results, the final pass rate of SiPM array was 95%. Based on the failure analysis, it was found that a piece of SiPM had a leakage channel after longtime operation due to device defects.
Conclusion According to the accumulated experience, in the reliability test of SiPM, it is necessary to pay special attention to test the impedance of each pin of SiPM to ground and confirm that the power switch state of SiPM is controllable.