Research and Development of a Scintillating Fiber Tracker with SiPM Array Read-Out for Application in Space

Scintillating fibers read-out by arrays of silicon photomultipliers can be complementary to silicon strip detectors for particle trackers in space or represent a viable alternative. Less fragile, more flexible, with no need of wire bonds, they can be used in high resolution charged particle tracking detectors for spaceborne experiments. Two prototypes, a $1\,\mathrm{m} $ long and a $70\,\mathrm{cm}$ long ribbon, made of six layers of $250\,\mu \mathrm{m}$ diameter fibers, coupled to Hamamatsu silicon photomultiplier arrays and read-out by VATA ASICs have been tested. Preliminary results of a beam test carried out at CERN and the status of the ongoing space qualification process are presented in this contribution.