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LHCb scintillated fiber tracker: Unmatched measurement capabilities
Tracking discoveries in particle physics
Deep beneath the surface of the Earth, in a cavernous space 100 meters underground, lies the LHCb Scintillated Fiber Tracker (‘SciFi Tracker’), a groundbreaking innovation in measurement developed at CERN. This sub-detector, part of the Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment, aims to address critical questions surrounding CP-symmetry breaking and dark matter, significantly advancing our understanding of particle physics.
Opening of the LHCb detector in early December 2018.
Credit: Maximilien Brice/CERN
Charting new frontiers
The SciFi Tracker plays a pivotal role in the LHCb experiment. It uses scintillating fibers to accurately track particles generated from collisions, providing high spatial resolution. This technology is essential for measuring rare phenomena, particularly in the beauty and charm quark sectors, and assists in the search for evidence of new physics beyond the Standard Model. Its implementation highlights the necessity of technological advancements in measurement and recording within the evolving landscape of particle physics.
A cross-section showing the LHCb detector’s main elements. Credit: LHCb
A cross-section showing the LHCb detector’s main elements. Credit: LHCb
Advancing particle detection technology
The successful implementation of the SciFi Tracker marked a major milestone in advancing LHCb’s overall abilities. Replacing both the previous ‘Outer Tracker’ gas detector and the ‘Inner Tracker’ of silicon microstrips, the single SciFi Tracker enhances the experiment's ability to track high-energy particles with exceptional precision. By employing organic scintillator fibers, this novel design creates a thinner and more efficient system optimized for high-performance tracking. Covering an area of 340 m², it can measure particle passage with 70 μm precision and process 40 million interactions per second, achieving a hit efficiency of over 99 percent. The detector is capable of handling higher luminosity and data rates than the original detectors.
The installation of the SciFi Tracker during LHCb’s Upgrade I in 2021 was a momentous occasion for Dr. Guido Haefeli, the Technical Coordinator for the project. Involved from concept to implementation, “seeing the fully built sci-fi tracker hanging in the air, represented the culmination of 10 years of work and collaboration”.
Lowering the first four of the 12 pieces that make up the SciFi detector 100 metres underground. Credit: CERN
Addressing the radiation challenge
Radiation poses the main challenge for the SciFi Tracker, as it risks damaging the vital photodetectors within the intense LHC radiation environment. Both silicon and scintillator materials are vulnerable to degradation, necessitating the tracker’s operation at low temperatures of -40°C to mitigate radiation damage while preserving efficiency. This strategic approach was instrumental in maintaining the flawless operation of 4,096 multichannel detector arrays over the past three years, setting the stage for future developments.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Upgrade 2 "Mighty SciFi", scheduled for 2035, aims to further its radiation hardness and cool the detector to a remarkable -196 °C using liquid nitrogen, eliminating radiation-induced noise. It will also increase interaction rate sixfold while handling denser tracks and adding the time resolution to under one nanosecond.
Collaborative efforts
The partnership with Hamamatsu Photonics has been crucial in overcoming the challenges faced by the SciFi Tracker. As a trusted contributor within the particle physics community, Hamamatsu's expertise in silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) facilitated the development of specialized MPPC® arrays tailored for the project. These innovative butt-joined devices, featuring minimal dead areas and thin entrance windows, offer improved data collection. Introduced in 2017, they are the most radiation hard SiPM technology while providing the large-scale production required for the project's ambitious nature.
“The end product is a fantastic device, its performance excellent”. Dr. Haefeli continues, “Our strong relationship with Hamamatsu’s customer support and their support and collaboration over the years has been key to the success of the experiment.”
LHCb SciFi Tracker Silicon Photomultipliers (SIPMs). Each LHCb’s SiPM channel comprises 104 parallel Avalanche Photodiodes in Geiger Mode pixels. The 128 channel array is made of 2 dies of 64 channels and is mounted on a Kapton flex PCB. The LHCb Scifi uses 4096 SiPM assemblies with a total of 524288 SiPM channels. Credit: Guido Haefeli, EPFL on behalf of the LHCb SciFi.
The SiPMs key performances, correlated noise and PDE. Credit: Guido Haefeli, EPFL, on behalf of the LHCb SciFi.
SiPMs performance: Dark count rate per SiPM channel (DCR) and the radiation environment in the SciFi detector region. Credit: Guido Haefeli, EPFL, on behalf of the LHCb SciFi
Future prospects
The technology behind the SciFi Tracker has promising implications, not only in high-energy physics but also in other fields. While its results continue to challenge our understanding of the Standard Model and search for new physics, the organic scintillator fibers also have the potential to transform industries further afield. It could replace traditional silicon detectors in various applications, including medical uses like ion beam monitoring and radiotherapy dose monitoring. The advancements driven by the SciFi Tracker and the LHCb experiment are set to enrich our lives beyond the realm of particle physics.
Image for illustration purposes.
Exciting discoveries
The ongoing research with the SciFi Tracker is already yielding new insights into the behavior of baryonic matter and antimatter. It provides strong evidence that baryons, such as protons and neutrons, exhibit a mirror-like asymmetry in fundamental laws, leading to distinct interactions between matter and antimatter. This could help explain the dominance of matter over antimatter after the Big Bang.
As scientists look deeper into these phenomena, the possibilities for groundbreaking discoveries in fundamental physics remain vast. The SciFi Tracker exemplifies both an evolution in experimental techniques and a collective commitment to exploring the unknown for the benefit of all.
The LHCb collaboration in front of the LHCb Upgrade 1 detector in the underground cavern. The structures in green, yellow, grey and blue are used to support the different detectors. Credit: Sune Jakobsen (CERN EP-DT-TP) on behalf of the LHCb SciFi
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