High-speed data acquisition system: application of LHC particles on the accelerator

In data acquisition processes appropriate to large particle detectors, there is a key component for processing data in real time as an integral part of the hierarchic system of information filtering. It is a read out driver (ROD), responsible for data reception, reprocessing, routing and broadcasting to the next acquisition level. In order to implement a system with these features it is essential to count on advanced programmable logic devices that allow for all the information collected at high speed to be handled conveniently. In the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the construction of a new particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), is being completed. It is envisaged that in 2006 proton packets will collide with the production of energy approaching 14 TeV. For the study of basic questions in particle physics large detectors (ATLAS and CMS) were set up, capable of absorbing all the information generated by these collisions (50 TB/s). (5 refs).