Temperature characterization of versatile transceivers

The Versatile Transceiver is a part of the Versatile Link project, which is developing optical link architectures and components for future HL-LHC experiments. While having considerable size and weight constraints, Versatile Transceivers must work under severe environmental conditions. One such environmental parameter is the temperature: the operating temperature range is specified to be from -30 to +60°C. In this contribution we present the results of the temperature characterization of the VTRx transmitter and receiver. Several transmitter candidates from three different manufacturers have been characterized: multi-mode Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers and a single-mode Edge-Emitter Laser. Also both single- and multi-mode receivers have been tested

Versatile Link PLUS transceiver development

The Versatile Link PLUS project targets the phase II upgrades of the ATLAS and CMS experiments. It will develop a radiation resistant optical link, operating at up to 10 Gb/s in the upstream and up to 5 Gb/s in the downstream directions with a smaller footprint and higher channel count than its predecessor. A low-profile package is being developed that allows volume production at reduced costs, but which nevertheless can be configured to suit the individual channel count needs of different detectors. This paper describes the development strategies and summarizes the status of the feasibility demonstration phase of the project

System-level testing of the Versatile Link components

During the first upgrade phase of the Large Hadron Collider experiments, high-speed optical links will be deployed to achieve the bandwidth needed to exploit the increasing luminosity and to allow data acquisition at higher rates. The Versatile Transceiver (VTRx) and Versatile Twin Transmitter (VTTx) modules are in their final development phase before production. They support different link architectures and offer compatibility with either single-mode or multi-mode fibre plants. This paper describes the supported link configurations and presents the system-level testing of the VTRx and VTTx front-end modules with various commercial-off-the-shelf back-end components

System development of silicon photonics links for CERN experiments and accelerators

Future upgrades of the CERN Experiments and Accelerators require optical links capable of handling the large data volume generated in particle detectors and beam position (BPMs) sensors. Silicon Photonics optical transceivers are a promising candidate to process the required data rate as well as efficiently operate in the harsh radiation environment. We present the experimental characterisation of silicon modulators together with demonstration of optical transmitters based on custom designed Silicon Photonics integrated circuits.Future upgrades of the CERN Experiments and Accelerators require optical links capable of handling the large data volume generated in particle detectors and beam position (BPMs) sensors. Silicon Photonics optical transceivers are a promising candidate to process the required data rate as well as efficiently operate in the harsh radiation environment. We present the experimental characterisation of silicon modulators together with demonstration of optical transmitters based on custom designed Silicon Photonics integrated circuits

Laser and photodiode environmental evaluation for the Versatile Link project

We summarize the results obtained in a series of radiation tests of candidate laser and photodiode components for use in the Versatile Transceiver (VTRx), the front-end component of the Versatile Link. We have carried out radiation testing at a full spectrum of sources (neutrons, pions, gammas) and can now compare the results and show that the range of components that meet the radiation tolerance requirements is rather large. In addition, devices have been operated in a high magnetic field to qualify them for use in (HL-) LHC detectors

Versatile Link+^{+} transceiver production

The Versatile Link$^{+}$ project targeting the Phase 2 HL-LHC detector upgrades is entering the production phase. After several years of prototyping, the industrialisation of the Versatile Link$^{+}$ Transceiver (VTRx$^{+}$) was launched in 2021 and the production is scheduled to start in 2022. We describe the extensive qualification effort carried out and the quality assurance procedures put in place to monitor the manufacturing quality. We summarise the experience of the industrialisation and we present the plans for the production.Abstract The Versatile Link+ project targeting the Phase 2 HL-LHC detector upgrades is entering the production phase. After several years of prototyping, the industrialisation of the Versatile Link+ Transceiver (VTRx+) was launched in 2021 and the production is scheduled to start in 2022. We describe the extensive qualification effort carried out and the quality assurance procedures put in place to monitor the manufacturing quality. We summarise the experience of the industrialisation and we present the plans for the production

The Versatile transceiver: Towards production readiness

Detectors involved in the upgrade programme of the LHC will need high-speed optical links to transfer readout and control data. The link front-end will be based on a radiation tolerant opto-electronic module, the Versatile Transceiver (VTRx), developed under the Versatile Link project. In this contribution we present a test system and protocol to be used to verify the compliance of the VTRx modules to the specifications, and a Versatile Link demonstrator based on the VTRx and the Gigabit Link Interface Board. Finally, we introduce the Small Footprint VTRx which is being designed for the CMS Tracker upgrade

Gamma irradiation of minimal latency Hollow-Core Photonic Bandgap Fibres

Hollow-Core Photonic-Bandgap Fibres (HC-PBGFs) offer several distinct advantages over conventional fibres, such as low latency and radiation hardness; properties that make HC-PBGFs interesting for the high energy physics community. This contribution presents the results from a gamma irradiation test carried out using a new type of HC-PBGF that combines sufficiently low attenuation over distances that are compatible with high energy physics applications together with a transmission bandwidth that covers the 1550nm region. The radiation induced attenuation of the HC-PBGF was two orders of magnitude lower than that of a conventional fibre during a 67.5 hour exposure to gamma-rays, resulting in a radiation-induced attenuation of only 2.1dB/km at an accumulated dose of 940kGy