ATLAS Silicon Microstrip Tracker Operation

The ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has started taking data last autumn with the inauguration of the LHC. The SemiConductor Tracker (SCT) is the key precision tracking device in ATLAS, made up from silicon micro-strip detectors. The completed SCT has been installed inside ATLAS. Since then the detector was operated for many months under realistic conditions. Calibration data has been taken and analysed to determine the noise performance of the system. In addition, extensive commissioning with cosmic ray events has been performed both with and without magnetic field. The current status of the SCT will be reviewed, including results from the latest data-taking, and from the detector alignment. The SCT commissioning and running experience will then be used to extract valuable lessons for future silicon detector projects.