100 ps time resolution with thin silicon pixel detectors and a SiGe HBT amplifier

A 100 mu m thick silicon detector with 1 mm(2) pad readout optimized for sub-nanosecond time resolution has been developed and tested. Coupled to a purposely developed amplifier based on SiGe HBT technology, this detector was characterized at the H8 beam line at the CERN SPS. An excellent time resolution of (106 +/- 1) ps for silicon detectors was measured with minimum ionizing particles.