STAR time of flight readout electronics, DAQ, and cosmic ray test stand

J. Schambach, L. Bridges, G. Eppley, J. Hoffmann, K. Kajimoto, J. Liu, W. J. Llope, C. Mesa, T. Nussbaum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel Time-of-Flight (TOF) subsystem is under design for the STAR detector at RHIC. A total of 3840 Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC) of 6 pads each are distributed over 120 trays. The total number of channels is 23040. Each TOF tray consists of 192 detector channels and three different types of electronic circuit cards, called "TINO", "TDIG", and "TCPU", listed in order of the data flow. Every 30 trays send their data to a "THUB" card that interfaces to the STAR trigger and transmits the data over a fiber to a fiber receiver which is part of STAR DAQ. The TINO contains the analog front end electronics based on the CERN/LAA NINO custom IC. The output of TINO is passed to the TDIG, where the data are digitized (using the CERN HPTDC ASIQ. The TCPU formats and buffers the digital detector information. These formatted data are passed to THUB, which transmits it over an optical fiber to a data receiver in the STAR DAQ room. We have constructed a cosmic ray test system comprised of three plastic scintillators, 4 MRPC modules, and TOF prototype electronics in order to determine the timing resolution expected to be achieved with these electronics in the entire TOF system. Overall timing resolution of 80-110ps for cosmic ray events has been achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2006 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium - Conference Record
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages485-488
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)1424405610, 9781424405619
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Event2006 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and 15th International Workshop on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X- and Gamma-Ray Detectors, Special Focus Workshops, NSS/MIC/RTSD - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Oct 29 2006Nov 4 2006

Publication series

NameIEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1095-7863

Conference

Conference2006 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and 15th International Workshop on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X- and Gamma-Ray Detectors, Special Focus Workshops, NSS/MIC/RTSD
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period10/29/0611/4/06

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