Hardware Interface and Software Readout for Detection of Heavy Charged Particles in Silicon Strip Detectors

AbstraktAbstract

The aim of this diploma thesis is to design and construct the prototype of a new integrated readout interface for silicon strip detectors of the SCT type. The semiconductor tracker (SCT) is used for detection of charged particles and reconstruction of their trajectory. This type of the detector is used in the inner detector of the ATLAS LHC at CERN. The SCT module contains two semiconductor sensitive plates crossed at a small angle 2.5°. Each plate is divided into 768 sensitive strip elements. A second part is the processing readout electronics which digitize the signal collected of the deposited charge and provides communication with the other circuits. Special ASICs were developed for this purpose. Data readout and signal acquisition control are carried out simultaneously from many SCT module units in order to assemble a large area high-performance array. This design demands bulky power sources, separated readout interfaces, signal and data acquisition electronic modules for VME bin crates as well as PC data cards. This solution is however nor suitable nor practical for laboratory and variable measurements with different experimental setups. These limitations of the original SCT modules can be removed by constructing a new and highly integrated readout and power interface which is the subject of this thesis. All the necessary electronics, including high voltage detector bias are integrated on two coupled boards into the same system. Just one auxiliary voltage source is required. This portable design includes the necessary control and data readout software tool. The developed interface will be equipped by two programmable devices increasing the flexibility and operational range.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to design and construct the prototype of a new integrated readout interface for silicon strip detectors of the SCT type. The semiconductor tracker (SCT) is used for detection of charged particles and reconstruction of their trajectory. This type of the detector is used in the inner detector of the ATLAS LHC at CERN. The SCT module contains two semiconductor sensitive plates crossed at a small angle 2.5°. Each plate is divided into 768 sensitive strip elements. A second part is the processing readout electronics which digitize the signal collected of the deposited charge and provides communication with the other circuits. Special ASICs were developed for this purpose. Data readout and signal acquisition control are carried out simultaneously from many SCT module units in order to assemble a large area high-performance array. This design demands bulky power sources, separated readout interfaces, signal and data acquisition electronic modules for VME bin crates as well as PC data cards. This solution is however nor suitable nor practical for laboratory and variable measurements with different experimental setups. These limitations of the original SCT modules can be removed by constructing a new and highly integrated readout and power interface which is the subject of this thesis. All the necessary electronics, including high voltage detector bias are integrated on two coupled boards into the same system. Just one auxiliary voltage source is required. This portable design includes the necessary control and data readout software tool. The developed interface will be equipped by two programmable devices increasing the flexibility and operational range.