Katherine Generation 2: advanced readout system for Timepix3 detectors

Abstract

This paper presents Katherine Generation 2 (Gen2), an advanced readout system designed for Timepix3 pixel detector. The new system addresses limitations of the original Katherine (Gen1) design, particularly in terms of data throughput and support for multi-detector configurations. Katherine Gen2 supports two sensor inputs via VHDCI connectors and provides two independent bias voltage sources up to +/- 1 kV. It includes both Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 interfaces, offering flexibility for remote or local high-throughput applications. Data handling pipeline has been extended to support dynamic detector mapping, hardware decoding of pixel data, and timestamping of external triggers. Compatibility with multiple chipboard types, including single-chip, quad (2 x 2), and specialized detector units, is maintained. Benchmark measurements demonstrate that the system achieves the maximum data rate supported by the Timepix3 chip in USB 3.0 mode. The device is supported by established software tools and is intended as a flexible platform for various experimental and detector development applications.