Qualification of electronic components and systems in a LHC Tunnel Radiation Environment

Around 10.200 electronic crates will be installed in the LHC underground areas of which some 4.200 will be connected to the machine control network. Some of the electronic equipment will be housed under the cryostats of the main dipoles inside the tunnel. Other equipment will be placed alongside the tunnel, in the alcoves or in galleries parallel to the machine. In the regular arcs and in the dispersion suppressors areas the expected annual dose is low, i.e. only a few Gy/y. However, preliminary radiation tests showed that electronic equipment fails even at such low dose rates. Since radiation qualification of all tunnel electronics is essential in order to guarantee its reliable operation over the lifetime of the machine, a LHC radiation test facility was commissioned in the North Experimental Area of the SPS accelerator. This paper presents the simulation study concerning the radiation environment of the LHC Radiation Test Facility and gives an overview of the various underground electronic systems as they are planned today. Preliminary conclusions about the qualification of electronic components and systems to be installed in the LHC tunnel will be given.