Single-event upset studies of a high-speed digital optical data link

The results from a series of neutron and photon irradiation tests of a high-speed digital optical data link based on a commercial serialiser and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser are described, the link was developed as a candidate for the front-end readout of the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter. The components at the emitting end of the link were unaffected by neutron and photon irradiation levels exceeding those expected during 10 years of LHC running. However, the link suffered from Single-Event upsets (SEUs) when irradiated with energetic neutrons. A very general method based on the burst generation rate (BGR) model has been developed and is used to extrapolate the error rate observed during tests to that expected at the LHC. A model-independent extrapolation was used to check the BGR approach and the results were consistent once systematic errors were taken into account. (21 refs).