The Vertex detector of the LHCb Experiment: The VeLo

The LHCb experiment is the dedicated b physics experiment of the LHC that will study CP violation and rare b decays. Its vertex detector called VeLo (Vertex Locator) has been designed to achieve an impact parameter resolution of 14μm + 35μm/pT and a propertime resolution of 40fs−1. The main components of the detector and module are introduced focusing on the radiation hard front end Beetle chip, the radiation tolerant silicon sensors and the readout system of the detector. In preliminary testbeam results a resolution of 8μm and 4μm for tracks of angle 0.16rad has been measured. Construction, assembly and commissioning are currently on going. The latest commissioning showing the successful performance of the VeLo alignment algorithm.