Difference between revisions of "Minutes-9-30-2010"

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#* Discussions of the FDC electronics (cont.) [[http://www.jlab.org/Hall-D/detector/fdc/electronics/FDC_electronics_req.pdf FDC requirements]]  
 
#* Discussions of the FDC electronics (cont.) [[http://www.jlab.org/Hall-D/detector/fdc/electronics/FDC_electronics_req.pdf FDC requirements]]  
 
# Engineering (Bill and David)
 
# Engineering (Bill and David)
#* Wire stringing: fixtures, movement system
+
#* Wire stringing: fixtures, movement system [[http://www.jlab.org/Hall-D/detector/fdc/WireStringing/stringingtable1.JPG]], [[http://www.jlab.org/Hall-D/detector/fdc/WireStringing/stringingtable2.JPG]]
 
#* Discussions of the stringing procedure (cont.)
 
#* Discussions of the stringing procedure (cont.)
 
#* Other
 
#* Other
 
# Full-scale prototype
 
# Full-scale prototype
#* tests with different gas mixtures (Beni)
+
#* tests with different gas mixtures (Beni) [[http://www.jlab.org/Hall-D/detector/fdclog/ FDC Log Book, pages 519,520]]
 
# Other
 
# Other
  
<!--
+
 
  
 
= Minutes =
 
= Minutes =
Participants: Eugene, Fernando, Beni, Bill, Chris, David, Simon, Mark, Gerard (on the phone), and Lubomir.
+
Participants: Eugene, Fernando, Bill, David, Chris, Simon, Beni, Glenn, Gerard (on the phone), Roger, Mark, Casey, and Lubomir.
  
It was a long (2.5 hours) but productive meeting, half of the time discussing the FDC requirements for the electronins, and the other half - the wire stringing procedure.
+
== Electronics ==
  
== Production ==
+
- Fernando: the last PCBs were shipped and will have them by Monday and then all will be sent for assembly (the contract is in place already). Chris checked all the boards
 +
visually, and three of them for continuity: only minor cosmetic problems. Gerard implemented the auto-load feature on fADC125. Bryan Moffit will put the new firmware
 +
on the module so that we can use it for the next tests. Gerard fixed the third fADC125 and soon will have it ready to be sent to CMU. No news concerning the cathode
 +
foils.
  
- Only good news about Blue Crab, procurement will finalize the contract with AdvanceTEC for the construction of the clean room by the end of the month. The AC for the whole area
+
- Lubomir updated the document about the FDC electronics requirements, linked above, where you can find more details of the discussions listed below.  
is being installed now.
+
  
== Electronics ==
+
- Pre-amps in discriminator mode: GlueX-doc-1364 states: "the discriminator has been optimize for operation
 +
between 2-5fC and has a range of 20fC". While testing the discriminator cards with the full-scale prototype the lowest possible threshold was 10fC. With more chambers connected
 +
and more noise we may need to increase the threshold up to 40-60fC. Fernando: the above numbers correspond to the high gain mode, in case of a low gain these numbers have to be
 +
multiply by ~4.
  
- Fernando: we have now all the PCB boards (except maybe one set, out of 28, that has to be checked). The contract with the assembly company is awarded.
+
- Quadratic vs linear interpolation in fADC125: if using fADC125 for drift time measurements, the quadratic interpolation gives a little advantage for 40ns peaking time.
 +
If comparing the timing from the strips and wires (this helps to separate the real from the fake hits) the fADC resolution is of the order of 1ns. In this case the
 +
quadratic interpolation gives ~25% better resolution than the linear.
  
- Fernando: according to the procurement, the sole source for the cathode foils is out of question. Therefore, Fernando submitted the specifications
+
- fADC vs discriminator for the wires: Eugene asked if we have decided. According to the simulations the discriminator gives much better position resolution for distances
to be posted on the FedBiz site with  a deadline for possible offers of Oct. 13.  
+
smaller than 3-2mm where good timing resolution is needed. For distances bigger than 4mm fADC gives ~20% better resolution. Gerard: realistically, one has to use also 1ns timing resolution for the discriminator; Lubomir will implement this in the Garfield simulations. Gerard wanted to have the raw and convoluted signals from the Garfield simulations.
 +
Lubomir will send him the program to generate the signals. Nevertheless, the biggest advantage of the discriminator card is that it is
 +
close to the detector and one can lower the threshold, which will improve the resolution. At the same time, one can use the cathode information from the FADC
 +
to reconstruct the drift time in the regions where it gives better precision.  
  
- Lubomir started preparing a document explaining the FDC requirements for the pre-amplifiers and flash ADC125. It is based on the tests of the full-scale prototype including with fADC125, and on Garfield simulations. This document linked above contains plots and more details that were discussed.  
+
- FDC gas mixture: Eugene asked about the status. As far as the electronics is concerned one should assume 8x10^4 gas gain that we got with 40/60 Ar/CO2 and 2225V/-500V voltage.
 +
Both wire and strip resolutions improve with increasing signal to noise ratio and the signals with 40/60 were sufficiently high to get the design resolution.
 +
The 4-5mm (distance to the wire) region is an exception, where long tails in the drift time distribution significantly deteriorate the resolution.
 +
This is because of the strong drift time vs electric field dependence. The problem can be solved by using 90/10 mixture but then we can't reach the same gas gain
 +
because of the limited quenching properties of CO2.
  
- Gain of the cathode cards: present value of 2.6mV/fC will work for the FDC. To be safe we specify gain range of 2.0 - 3.2. The problem is that in the current pre-amp design, the next possible gain below 2.6 is 0.91. Lower gains might be needed if the cards generate with 2.6mV/fC. The final decision about the gain can can be made after building and testing
+
== Engineering ==
one full package of 6 chambers.
+
  
- fADC125 mapping: the 2.6mV/fC card output should map onto 80% of the full scale of the fADC125. Additional decrease of the range down to 60% is acceptable if it is needed
+
- Bill and a person from the machine shop will visit "Vision machining" to set up the wire production.
to match the CDC requirements for the fADC125.
+
+
- Gain for the anode cards: with the present gain of 0.6mV/fC and gas gain of 8x10^4, the wire signals saturate. Since the cards will be used in discriminator mode,
+
the saturation doesn't affect the time information that will be recorded with F1TDC. If there are other saturation effects, like increased recovery time, then we need to
+
reduce the gain by about a factor of two. Again, this will be problematic with the current version of the card since 0.59mV/fC is the lowest possible gain. Gerard will look into that.
+
  
- Other fADC125 requirements: Lubomir investigated the effect of the peaking time on the resolution (page 517). Eugene: very small effect and it is not worth optimizing.
+
- Wire stringing table: The holes in the granite table are ready. Bill glued pins into the holes. David is working on the movement system. Two options: buying a $2k controller that works with new computers/software or using the existing JLab controllers with the existing software. First will try the second option; Beni will help
Gerard expects the resolution with fADC125 to be closer to the one with discriminator and has doubts about this result. For the next meeting, Lubomir will prepare additional plots using other interpolation methods. Gerard: the common noise subtraction is not possible in the FPGA that collects the information from all the channels, because the zero suppression should be done before that in the FPGAs for the individual channels. Lubomir and Gerard will discuss other possibilities for the noise reduction.
+
with the controller and the documentation.
  
 +
- Preparation for wire stringing: the holes in the granite tables are being drilled now and all the initial parts to be attached to the table are ready. David has been working
 +
on the movement system and the encoder. Two options to connect the stepper motor to a new computer: one  would require a $2K adapter that will work with new
 +
computers and software, the other is to use existing JLab controller with existing software. We will try first the second option; Beni will help with the controller and
 +
documentation.
  
== Engineering ==
+
- Bill made a 3D model of the wire stringing system, linked above,  and explained the procedure. Wire by wire first sense then field wires: stringing, pressing with screws, taping down to the outer side of the board, measuring/adjusting the tension. After stringing all the wires: applying epoxy, measuring/adjusting the position, soldering, and cleaning.
 +
The improvement proposed by Bill is to tape the individual wires to make sure they touch the board (something we discussed last time).
  
- Preparation for wire stringing: the holes in the granite tables are being drilled now and all the initial parts to be attached to the table are ready. David has been working
 
on the movement system and the encoder. There are several options to connect the stepper motor to a new computer, one of them would require a $2K adapter.
 
 
- Bill presented his plan for aligning the wires to the soldering pads by using a precise squiggle motor (see links above). After adjusting each wire, it will be soldered at the same time. In this scheme the wires will be glued later. Eugene made a point that this is a new procedure that requires time for R&D and we should use a procedure
 
demonstrated to work.  Instead of touching the wires, at UVA they applied pressure on the frame locally from below to adjust the vertical position of the board,
 
glued the wires and then soldered them. Everybody agreed that our frames are different and this procedure may not work for us. Still, important is first to glue the wires and then
 
to solder them to avoid tension on the soldering. The problem is that when gluing, the wires must be at the right positions and this can't be done for a group of wires with the
 
squiggle motor. For that one needs a comb or individual weighs on the wires from the inner side of the chamber. During the discussion people exchanged other interesting ideas. At the end we agreed all this requires prototyping and we can start with something simple: after applying glue and before it hardens, manually adjusting the wire position (as much as possible) while looking at a microscope.
 
  
 
== Full-scale prototype  ==
 
== Full-scale prototype  ==
  
- Beni is testing the miidle and top chambers comparing the new method, pre-amp in discriminator mode, with the old one with an external discriminator. There were some noise problems especially in the middle chamber. The source of the noise: the CAEN HV supply used for the scintillators.  
+
- Beni continued testing different gas mixtures (90/10, 85/15 and now 80/20) and showed some plots above. Pictures from the scope show after-pulses that are typical for these gas mixtures with high Ar content at high enough HV. Because of the after-pulses the ADC saturates. Fernando: where's the plateau? The end of the plateau is where the after-pulses start. The beginning has to be find by lower the HV, Beni covered so far ~150V for some of the mixtures. To reduce the after-pulses Beni wants to use the pre-mixed bottle Ar/CH4 95/5% and to mix it with CO2. Methane is flammable above 5% in air. Using methane in the hall has to be discussed, but first Lubomir will simulate it with Garfield
 
+
to estimate the advantages. It is know that organic molecule cause polymerization on the wires at high rates and gains. The other halls (A and C) have been using ethane
- Simon showed his new results (pages 516 and 519) for the momentum resolution including more realistic Garfield simulations of the drift times. The momentum resolution gets worse
+
as quencher (mxied with alcohol to prevent polymerization) for a long time.
(page 516) compared to the standard 200 micron position resolution that was used before. However, Simon demonstrated that the knowledge of the error distributions can be
+
used to improve the momentum resolution (page 519).
+
-->
+

Latest revision as of 19:55, 30 September 2010

September 30, 2010 FDC meeting

Tentative Agenda

  1. Electronics
    • Update (Fernando)
    • Discussions of the FDC electronics (cont.) [FDC requirements]
  2. Engineering (Bill and David)
    • Wire stringing: fixtures, movement system [[1]], [[2]]
    • Discussions of the stringing procedure (cont.)
    • Other
  3. Full-scale prototype
  4. Other


Minutes

Participants: Eugene, Fernando, Bill, David, Chris, Simon, Beni, Glenn, Gerard (on the phone), Roger, Mark, Casey, and Lubomir.

Electronics

- Fernando: the last PCBs were shipped and will have them by Monday and then all will be sent for assembly (the contract is in place already). Chris checked all the boards visually, and three of them for continuity: only minor cosmetic problems. Gerard implemented the auto-load feature on fADC125. Bryan Moffit will put the new firmware on the module so that we can use it for the next tests. Gerard fixed the third fADC125 and soon will have it ready to be sent to CMU. No news concerning the cathode foils.

- Lubomir updated the document about the FDC electronics requirements, linked above, where you can find more details of the discussions listed below.

- Pre-amps in discriminator mode: GlueX-doc-1364 states: "the discriminator has been optimize for operation between 2-5fC and has a range of 20fC". While testing the discriminator cards with the full-scale prototype the lowest possible threshold was 10fC. With more chambers connected and more noise we may need to increase the threshold up to 40-60fC. Fernando: the above numbers correspond to the high gain mode, in case of a low gain these numbers have to be multiply by ~4.

- Quadratic vs linear interpolation in fADC125: if using fADC125 for drift time measurements, the quadratic interpolation gives a little advantage for 40ns peaking time. If comparing the timing from the strips and wires (this helps to separate the real from the fake hits) the fADC resolution is of the order of 1ns. In this case the quadratic interpolation gives ~25% better resolution than the linear.

- fADC vs discriminator for the wires: Eugene asked if we have decided. According to the simulations the discriminator gives much better position resolution for distances smaller than 3-2mm where good timing resolution is needed. For distances bigger than 4mm fADC gives ~20% better resolution. Gerard: realistically, one has to use also 1ns timing resolution for the discriminator; Lubomir will implement this in the Garfield simulations. Gerard wanted to have the raw and convoluted signals from the Garfield simulations. Lubomir will send him the program to generate the signals. Nevertheless, the biggest advantage of the discriminator card is that it is close to the detector and one can lower the threshold, which will improve the resolution. At the same time, one can use the cathode information from the FADC to reconstruct the drift time in the regions where it gives better precision.

- FDC gas mixture: Eugene asked about the status. As far as the electronics is concerned one should assume 8x10^4 gas gain that we got with 40/60 Ar/CO2 and 2225V/-500V voltage. Both wire and strip resolutions improve with increasing signal to noise ratio and the signals with 40/60 were sufficiently high to get the design resolution. The 4-5mm (distance to the wire) region is an exception, where long tails in the drift time distribution significantly deteriorate the resolution. This is because of the strong drift time vs electric field dependence. The problem can be solved by using 90/10 mixture but then we can't reach the same gas gain because of the limited quenching properties of CO2.

Engineering

- Bill and a person from the machine shop will visit "Vision machining" to set up the wire production.

- Wire stringing table: The holes in the granite table are ready. Bill glued pins into the holes. David is working on the movement system. Two options: buying a $2k controller that works with new computers/software or using the existing JLab controllers with the existing software. First will try the second option; Beni will help with the controller and the documentation.

- Preparation for wire stringing: the holes in the granite tables are being drilled now and all the initial parts to be attached to the table are ready. David has been working on the movement system and the encoder. Two options to connect the stepper motor to a new computer: one would require a $2K adapter that will work with new computers and software, the other is to use existing JLab controller with existing software. We will try first the second option; Beni will help with the controller and documentation.

- Bill made a 3D model of the wire stringing system, linked above, and explained the procedure. Wire by wire first sense then field wires: stringing, pressing with screws, taping down to the outer side of the board, measuring/adjusting the tension. After stringing all the wires: applying epoxy, measuring/adjusting the position, soldering, and cleaning. The improvement proposed by Bill is to tape the individual wires to make sure they touch the board (something we discussed last time).


Full-scale prototype

- Beni continued testing different gas mixtures (90/10, 85/15 and now 80/20) and showed some plots above. Pictures from the scope show after-pulses that are typical for these gas mixtures with high Ar content at high enough HV. Because of the after-pulses the ADC saturates. Fernando: where's the plateau? The end of the plateau is where the after-pulses start. The beginning has to be find by lower the HV, Beni covered so far ~150V for some of the mixtures. To reduce the after-pulses Beni wants to use the pre-mixed bottle Ar/CH4 95/5% and to mix it with CO2. Methane is flammable above 5% in air. Using methane in the hall has to be discussed, but first Lubomir will simulate it with Garfield to estimate the advantages. It is know that organic molecule cause polymerization on the wires at high rates and gains. The other halls (A and C) have been using ethane as quencher (mxied with alcohol to prevent polymerization) for a long time.