Recent progress

1. Recent progress • The mass production of straws in Dubna including quality control is proceeding. • About 2 000 straws have been already manufactured; • Validation of the mechanical parts for module assembly (frames, straw spacers, manifolds, covers etc.); • Completion of the straw installation in module 1, including quality control e.g., gas tightness, straw straightness and straw tension ; • Procurement of the first five modules frames; • Validation of the electrical connections (signal and high voltage distribution) to the straws using the so-called webs. The measured cross-talk between channels ( 3%); • The FPGA-based TDC have been integrated on the front-end board (cover) and the first tests are successful; • The first version of the straw readout board (SRB) is tested and working SPSC meeting

2. The plans for 2012 include • Testing of module 1 after the completion of the wiring and followed by the integration of the two interface parts and services; • Design of the full SRB, mezzanine board for the TEL62 and firmware development, in order to complete the readout chain; • Procurement of the remaining detector components and the start of the production of the remaining modules; • Cosmic-rays tests of the 64-straw prototype using an independent tracker based on four Micromegas modules. The detector operation will also be tuned; • Beam test (June) with the 64-straw prototype and final front-end (with FPGA as TDC on the cover). The aim is to study and tune the performance of the FPGA-based TDC read-out. • Presence at the summer dry run in order to integrate the straw readout into the NA62 DAQ; • Participation in the TR in the fall of 2012 with the fully equipped module 1 SPSC meeting

3. NA62 straw readout • Architecture chosen • TDC on cover with high speed serial links • Prototype system ready to use • Scaled down SRB • ‘left’ and ‘right’ cover • Basic software for scans, TDC measurement, etc • TEL62 mezzanine • Requirements an specifications discussed also with TDAQ. Defined for • Straw detector (SRB) • TDAQ • Some HW already tested (link chipset) • Firmware discussed with TDAQ • Will try to mimic TDCB board to be able to fully benefit from common development • New covers • Need 1 more iteration based on feedback from tests • Small fixes and connectors replacement, both LV and HV • End of May design • Production end of July SPSC meeting

4. Module 1 assembly • All 896 straws inserted and tested (straw straightness, tension and leak tightness) • ~30% of the straws wired and HV tested SPSC meeting

5. Module assembly (#1) • Module 2 • Preparing for straw insertion. Leak testing started • Module 3 (for Dubna) • Dimensional check, sealing, leak test Module assembly: 2012 – #1 and #2 - at CERN start #3 at Dubna 2013 – finish # 3, #4 - at Dubna # 7 and # 8 - at CERN 2014 – # 5, 6- at Dubna SPSC meeting