W. Snoeys

Radiation tolerant VLSI circuits in standard deep submicron CMOS technologies for the LHC experiments: practical design aspects

We discuss design issues related to the extensive use of Enclosed Layout Transistors (ELTs) and guard rings in deep submicron CMOS technologies in order to improve radiation tolerance of ASICs designed for the LHC experiments (the Large Hadron Collider at present under construction at CERN). We present novel aspects related to the use of ELTs: noise measured before and after irradiation up to 100 Mrad (SiO/sub 2/), a model to calculate the W/L ratio and matching properties of these devices. Some conclusions concerning the density and the speed of ICs conceived with this design approach are finally drawn.

First measurement of the total proton-proton cross-section at the LHC energy of \chem{\sqrt{s} = 7\,TeV}

TOTEM has measured the differential cross-section for elastic proton-proton scattering at the LHC energy of analysing data from a short run with dedicated large-β* optics. A single exponential fit with a slope B=(20.1±0.2stat±0.3syst) GeV−2 describes the range of the four-momentum transfer squared |t| from 0.02 to 0.33 GeV2. After the extrapolation to |t|=0, a total elastic scattering cross-section of (24.8±0.2stat±1.2syst) mb was obtained. Applying the optical theorem and using the luminosity measurement from CMS, a total proton-proton cross-section of (98.3±0.2stat±2.8syst) mb was deduced which is in good agreement with the expectation from the overall fit of previously measured data over a large range of center-of-mass energies. From the total and elastic pp cross-section measurements, an inelastic pp cross-section of was inferred.

A readout chip for a 64 x 64 pixel matrix with 15-bit single photon counting

A single Photon Counting pixel detector readout Chip (PCC) has been derived from previous work in the CERN RD19 collaboration for particle physics tracking devices, recently developed for high energy physics experiments. The readout chip is a 64 x 64 matrix of identical 170 {micro}m x 170 {micro}m cells. It is to be bump-bonded to an equally segmented 1 cm{sup 2} matrix of semiconductor sensors, e.g. Si or GaAs. Each readout cell comprises a preamplifier, a discriminator and a 15-bit counter. The input noise is 170 e{sup {minus}} rms. At the lowest nominal threshold of 1,400 e{sup {minus}} (5.1 keV in Si) the cells exhibit a threshold distribution with a spread before adjustment of 350 e{sup {minus}} rms. Each cell has a 5-bit register which allows masking, test-enable and 3-bit individual threshold adjust. After adjustment the threshold spread is reduced to 80 e{sup {minus}} rms. Absolute calibration of the electrically measured equivalent charge can be done once the readout chip is bump-bonded to a detector.

Measurement of proton-proton elastic scattering and total cross-section at \chem{\sqrt {s} = 7\,TeV}

At the LHC energy of , under various beam and background conditions, luminosities, and Roman Pot positions, TOTEM has measured the differential cross-section for proton-proton elastic scattering as a function of the four-momentum transfer squared t. The results of the different analyses are in excellent agreement demonstrating no sizeable dependence on the beam conditions. Due to the very close approach of the Roman Pot detectors to the beam center (?5?beam) in a dedicated run with ?*?=?90?m, |t|-values down to 5?10?3?GeV2 were reached. The exponential slope of the differential elastic cross-section in this newly explored |t|-region remained unchanged and thus an exponential fit with only one constant B?=?(19.9???0.3)?GeV?2 over the large |t|-range from 0.005 to 0.2?GeV2 describes the differential distribution well. The high precision of the measurement and the large fit range lead to an error on the slope parameter B which is remarkably small compared to previous experiments. It allows a precise extrapolation over the non-visible cross-section (only 9%) to t?=?0. With the luminosity from CMS, the elastic cross-section was determined to be (25.4???1.1)?mb, and using in addition the optical theorem, the total pp cross-section was derived to be (98.6???2.2)?mb. For model comparisons the t-distributions are tabulated including the large |t|-range of the previous measurement (TOTEM Collaboration (Antchev G. et al), EPL, 95 (2011) 41001).

Proton-proton elastic scattering at the LHC energy of \chem{\sqrt{s} = 7\,TeV}

Proton-proton elastic scattering has been measured by the TOTEM experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at √ s = 7 TeV in dedicated runs with the Roman Pot detectors placed as close as seven times the transverse beam size (σbeam) from the outgoing beams. After careful study of the accelerator optics and the detector alignment, |t|, the square of four-momentum transferred in the elastic scattering process, has been determined with an uncertainty of δt = 0.1 GeV p |t|. In this letter, first results of the differential cross-section are presented covering a |t|-range from 0.36 to 2.5 GeV 2 . The differential cross-section in the range 0.36 < |t| < 0.47 GeV 2 is described by an exponential with a slope parameter B =( 23.6 ± 0.5 stat ± 0.4 syst )G eV −2 , followed by a significant diffractive minimum at |t| =( 0.53 ± 0.01 stat ± 0.01 syst )G eV 2 .F or|t|-values larger than ∼ 1. 5G eV 2 , the cross-section exhibits a power law behaviour with an exponent of −7.8 ± 0.3 stat ± 0.1 syst . When compared to predictions based on the different available models, the data show a strong discriminative power despite the small t-range covered. open access Copyright c EPLA, 2011

LHC1: A semiconductor pixel detector readout chip with internal, tunable delay providing a binary pattern of selected events

The Omega3/LHC1 pixel detector readout chip comprises a matrix of 128 × 16 readout cells of 50 μm × 500 μm and peripheral functions with 4 distinct modes of initialization and operation, together more than 800 000 transistors. Each cell contains a complete chain of amplifier, discriminator with adjustable threshold and fast-OR output, a globally adjustable delay with local fine-tuning, coincidence logic and memory. Every cell can be individually addressed for electrical test and masking. First results have been obtained from electrical tests of a chip without detector as well as from source measurements. The electronic noise without detector is ∼ 100 e− rms. The lowest threshold setting is close to 2000 e− and non-uniformity has been measured to be better than 450 e− rms at 5000 e− threshold. A timewalk of < 10 ns and a precision of < 6 ns rms on a delay of 2 μs have been measured. The results may be improved by further optimization.

A new NMOS layout structure for radiation tolerance

A new transistor structure is presented to obtain radiation tolerance in commercial submicron CMOS technology without any process modifications. The NMOS transistor and field leakage normally induced by ionizing irradiation is remedied by acting on the work function of the transistor gate at the transistor edges. The technique also works in a CMOS process where transistor source and drains are silicided. Contrary to the enclosed layout transistor (ELT) previously proposed for this purpose, this new transistor structure does not limit the transistor width over transistor length (W/L) ratios to large values and thereby eliminates one of the most stringent constraints in the design of radiation tolerant circuits in standard CMOS. Measurements on fabricated devices demonstrate the functionality of the transistor structure and its radiation tolerance up to 40 Mrad(SiO/sub 2/).

Evidence for non-exponential elastic proton-proton differential cross-section at low |t| and √ s = 8 TeV by TOTEM

Abstract The TOTEM experiment has made a precise measurement of the elastic proton–proton differential cross-section at the centre-of-mass energy s = 8 TeV based on a high-statistics data sample obtained with the β ⁎ = 90 m optics. Both the statistical and systematic uncertainties remain below 1%, except for the t-independent contribution from the overall normalisation. This unprecedented precision allows to exclude a purely exponential differential cross-section in the range of four-momentum transfer squared 0.027 | t | 0.2 GeV 2 with a significance greater than 7 σ . Two extended parametrisations, with quadratic and cubic polynomials in the exponent, are shown to be well compatible with the data. Using them for the differential cross-section extrapolation to t = 0 , and further applying the optical theorem, yields total cross-section estimates of ( 101.5 ± 2.1 ) mb and ( 101.9 ± 2.1 ) mb , respectively, in agreement with previous TOTEM measurements.

Enhancement of hyperon production at central rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb–Pb collisions

Results are presented on hyperon and antihyperon production in Pb–Pb, pPb and pBe collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon. Λ, Ξ and Ω yields have been measured at central rapidity and medium transverse momentum as functions of the centrality of the collision. Comparing the yields in Pb–Pb to those in pBe interactions, strangeness enhancement is observed. The enhancement increases with the centrality and with the strangeness content of the hyperons, reaching a factor of about 20 for the Ω in the central Pb–Pb collisions.

Measurement of the forward charged-particle pseudorapidity density in pp collisions at ?s = 7?TeV with the TOTEM experiment

The TOTEM experiment has measured the charged-particle pseudorapidity density dNch/d? in pp collisions at for 5.3<|?|<6.4 in events with at least one charged particle with transverse momentum above 40?MeV/c in this pseudorapidity range. This extends the analogous measurement performed by the other LHC experiments to the previously unexplored forward ? region. The measurement refers to more than 99% of non-diffractive processes and to single and double diffractive processes with diffractive masses above ~3.4?GeV/c2, corresponding to about 95% of the total inelastic cross-section. The dNch/d? has been found to decrease with |?|, from 3.84 ? 0.01(stat) ? 0.37(syst) at |?|=5.375 to 2.38?0.01(stat)?0.21(syst) at |?|=6.375. Several MC generators have been compared to data; none of them has been found to fully describe the measurement.