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LHCb Upgrade II: Maximising HL-LHC Discovery Potential (Bridging Funding)

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

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Publications

10 25 50
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Keizer F (2023) A novel fast-timing readout chain for LHCb RICH LS3 and prototype beam tests in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

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Bartolini M (2025) LHCb RICH Fast-timing photon detection at the SPS charged particle beam in Journal of Instrumentation

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Calabrese R (2022) Performance of the LHCb RICH detectors during LHC Run 2 in Journal of Instrumentation

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Wotton S (2024) The LHCb RICH upgrade for the high luminosity LHC era in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

 
Description We successfully developed the fast readout chain for the LHCb Upgrade II RICH system. Tests and characterisations of different sensors. Converged on a candidate for LS3 enhancements which will be installed in 2027. Prototyping of the final production readout board, FastRICH delivered and under rigorous testing.
Exploitation Route For use by those who will install and commission LS3 enhancements. Into production cycle for LS4.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

 
Description Many of the devices we design and develop in our lab at Cambridge are then shipped to CERN for rigorous testing in "test beams". We setup and test the devices using CERN's facilities and in-house expertise, along with other institute representatives with whom we collaborate. Some of the devices, e.g. picoTDC, are commercialised via CERN micro-electronics.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics
Impact Types Economic

 
Description LHCb Upgrade II: preconstruction for the ultimate LHC flavour physics experiment
Amount £272,610 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/X006514/1 
Organisation University of Cambridge 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2027
 
Description LHCb Collaboration 
Organisation European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Department CERN LHC LHCb
Country Switzerland 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution I have been working on analysis of LHCb data and contributing to performance tasks for the experiment. I have acted as an internal reviewer on several occasions for the collaboration. I currently hold a management position within the collaboration.
Collaborator Contribution Have input of common software and data formats. Sharing of resources.
Impact Several publications.
Start Year 2014
 
Title Hardware, devices and firmware provided for CERN test beams 
Description All under the CERN Open Hardware Licence (CERN-OHL). Released under this grant and its sister grants over a period from 2022- muDAQ FPGA-based back-end readout board Firmware implementation of back-end data acquisition and controls interfaces Front-end FPGA DAQ and data transmission module (K7Chimaera) Firmware implementation of 150ps resolution TDC in FPGA FPGA-based trigger processor module (Chimaera2) Firmware implementation of trigger logic for beam tests Pluggable front-end FastIC ASIC interfacing module Pluggable front-end picoTDC interfacing module Pluggable lpGBT interfacing module - SFP variant Pluggable 4xlpGBT interfacing module - VTRX+ variant Carrier board for pluggable modules Versatile DAQ and controls software with GUI lpTCM front-end control and synchronous command interface lpDTM prototype 4xlpGBT/VTRX+ data transmission module lpDTM 4xlpGBT/VTRX+ LS3/U2 engineering prototype data transmission module. 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2023 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact These developments allow the LHCb detector and its upgrades to run at the design performance and beyond. The electronics read out chain from photon sensor to offline signal is developed by Cambridge under this grant. We produce electronics for around 3-4 test beam runs per year, iterating and improving the design to hit grant milestones. This work will continue until the ultimate hardware upgrade of LHCb is installed (~2030s). Commercialisation of these items are routinely done under CERN microelectronics (ME) Department. 
URL https://kt.cern/technologies/picotdc
 
Description Cambridge Particle Physics Masterclass 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We invite A-level physics students from across the country to participate in a one day workshop (we do two sets of about 50 each on two days) - 100 pupils in total.

These events are primarily intended for those students taking A-Level modules or equivalent that include particle physics, but are also open to any physics student or teacher interested in studying or teaching the subject. The days are a mixture of short talks by research physicists and practical sessions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024,2025,2026
URL https://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/outreach/masterclass