Abstract:

When the current generations of detectors were planned, there was no consideration given to DC power distribution to the FE electronics. LHC detectors use linear regulators with power supplies located in a safe environment at distances of 140 m for ATLAS and 30 m for CMS. A 30% power delivery efficiency was deemed acceptable. For the next generation of detectors being designed now with 0.13 µm lithography for the FE Electronics, the operating voltage is 1.2 V and currents of 25,000 Amps, even higher due to finer segmentation. This results in delivery efficiency of 10%.

We are working on delivering power at x10 higher voltage and propose to use DC-DC converters on the same PCB as the FE ASIC chips. These have to operate in radiation of up to 100 Mrads, magnetic fields of 5T and produce very low noise.

We explore commercial (COTS) technology for DC-DC converter ICs suitable for use with air core inductors. The latter requirement is unique to HEP because of the high magnetic field.