Precision Timing with the CMS MTD Barrel Timing Layer for HL-LHC

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is undergoing an extensive Phase II upgrade program to prepare for the challenging conditions of the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). A new timing detector in CMS will measure minimum ionizing particles (MIPs) with a time resolution of 30-40 ps for MIP signals at a rate of 2.5 Mhit/s per channel at the beginning of HL-LHC operation. The precision time information from this MIP Timing Detector (MTD) will reduce the effects of the high levels of pileup expected at the HL-LHC, bringing new capabilities to the CMS detector. The barrel timing layer (BTL) of the MTD will use sensors that are based on LYSO Ce scintillation crystals coupled to SiPMs with TOFHIR ASICs for the front-end readout. In this talk we will present motivations for precision timing at the HL-LHC and an overview of the MTD BTL design, including ongoing R and D studies targeting enhanced timing performance and radiation tolerance.