Speaker
Description
The iRPC (improved Resistive Plate Chamber) is a newly introduced detector in the CMS Phase-II Upgrade, designed to enhance muon detection efficiency in the high-luminosity LHC environment. In order to study the performance of iRPC and R&D on the key technology of Backend Electronics, a prototype back-end electronics (BE) system based on the MicroTCA (µTCA) architecture has been developed and subjected to comprehensive full-chain validation. The prototype system has been evaluated across multiple testing stages. Verification of backend electronics functionality was conducted through cosmic ray experiments in CERN 904 laboratory and beam test in CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility. Subsequently, the system was deployed at CERN Point 5 (P5) and commissioned with real LHC stable beam collision data, enabling validation under authentic experimental conditions prior to Long Shutdown 3 (LS3). A key milestone was the successful integration of the iRPC back-end electronics with the CMS Global Trigger (L1A) and the Trigger Control and Distribution System (TCDS) at P5. These efforts resulted in the acquisition of genuine iRPC detector hit data, providing valuable input for ongoing detector and electronics study. In addition, joint commissioning tests were conducted with the Endcap Muon Track Finder (EMTF), iRPC cluster data together with other Endcap Muon data will be expected before LS3. Preliminary data analysis results demonstrate that the µTCA-based iRPC back-end electronics prototype meets the functional requirements for CMS Phase-II. The successful full-chain validation, from standalone bench tests to in-situ P5 integration, establishes a solid foundation for the final system design in LS3 installation. In this talk, more details about key technology of iRPC BE, set-up at P5 and data analysis results will be reported.