The next step in real time data processing for large scale physics experiments

Run 2 of the LHC represents one of the most challenging scientific environments for real time data analysis and processing. The steady increase in instantaneous luminosity will result in the CMS detector producing around 150 TB/s of data, only a small fraction of which is useful for interesting Physics studies. During 2015 the CMS collaboration will be completing a total upgrade of its Level 1 Trigger to deal with these conditions. In this talk a description of the major components of this complex system will be described. This will include a discussion of custom-designed electronic processing boards, built to the uTCA specification with AMC cards based on Xilinx 7 FPGAs and a network of high-speed optical links. In addition, novel algorithms will be described which deliver excellent performance in FPGAs and are combined with highly stable software frameworks to ensure a minimal risk of downtime. This upgrade is planned to take data from 2016. However a system of parallel running has been developed that will allow CMS to install, commission and operate it alongside the current Trigger to assess and validate performance with LHC collision data. This systems combination of state-of-the-art electronics, firmware and software could have many interesting applications for particle physics, astronomy and other areas.