RADIATION TESTS ON SOLID STATE CAMERAS FOR INSTRUMENTATION

Technological advances in solid state camera design have provided a wider choice of equipment for beam diagnostics, but following simulations of the expected radiation environment in the LHC knowledge of their radiation tolerance was required. Several cameras have been progressively exposed to a 60MeV proton beam and their performance degradation monitored. Following these results, further simulations have been carried out on the level of shielding needed to ensure satisfactory operation in the LHC. OBJECTIVES Previous experience with CCD based cameras has shown that the performance degrades with as little as 10Gy, which limits the areas in which they can be used and imposes the use of local radiation shielding[1]. It will be very difficult to provide shielding in the LHC, given the high energy of the secondary particles, which are generated by the interaction of the beam with residual gas in the vacuum chamber.