Radiation-Hard Power Electronics for the ATLAS New Small Wheel

Abstract

The New Small Wheel (NSW) is an upgrade for enhanced triggering and reconstruction of muons in the ATLAS forward region. The large LV power demands of the NSW necessitate a point-of-load architecture with on-detector power conversion. The radiation load and magnetic field of this environment, while significant, are nevertheless still in the range where commercial-off-the-shelf power devices may suffice. We present studies on the radiation-hardness and magnetic-field tolerance of several candidate buck converters and linear regulators. Device survival and performance are characterized when exposed to gamma radiation, neutrons, protons and magnetic fields