Technical Feasibility Studies for the CMS Tracker Position Monitoring System

CMS will use a tracker comprised of about 2~times10^4 silicon sensors operating inside the 4T magnetic field at about-20~^oC for the entire lifetime of the experiment. The tracker is composed of four mechanically independent structures. To monitor the stability of this system under running conditions a position monitoring system is necessary. It has to guarantee position tolerances at the level of 0.1~mm as a starting point for the alignment with track procedures. In view of the design of a positon monitoring system various components of potential interest have been studied and tested under laboratory conditions to guarantee a reliable and cost-effective design. This document compiles the related R&D of general interest: detailed studies of carbon fibre structures, the optical transmission of silicon, radiation hardness of optical components and the stability of a distributed laser light system.