Generating an Artificial Spill Signal through the use of FPGAs

The COMPASS system architecture, DAQs and trigger systems all use the SPS spill signal for synchronization, event building, and configuration or monitoring, enabling accurate and precise data acquisition of useful event collisions. However, during the Long CERN Shutdown (LS2), the M2 beam line and the accompanying spill signal are deactivated as no particle beams are produced. As a consequence, any upgrades made to the current system architecture, DAQs or trigger systems during LS2 cannot be tested, validated or debugged. This motivates the development of a test bed system capable of mimicking the behaviour of the particle beam and its interactions with the detectors and fixed targets.