ALICE SPD NEWS, October 30, 2000
================================

Contents
========

1) First results from characterization of the Alice1LHCb chip
2) First known-good-die Omega3 assemblies from Alenia Marconi Systems
3) Technical Structure of the Project

1) First results from characterization of the Alice1LHCb chip
=============================================================
(from K.Wyllie, M.Campbell, R.Dinapoli, W.Snoeys)
 
Please note ALL numbers are PRELIMINARY. Optimisation of the operating
point is still in progess and will take some weeks.

Front-end amplifier and discriminator:
--------------------------------------
Basic functionality proven on test structures. 
Peaking time ~25ns. 
Minimum threshold ~2000e- with clock running. 
Noise ~200e-.
Power consumption ~50uW/pixel (analog only). 

The delay line strucure:
------------------------
Basic functionality proven on test structures. However, operation only
to 20MHz. Under investigation.

FIFO and shift registers:
-------------------------
Idem delay line. 

Fast OR:
--------
Working.

Fast multiplicity output:
-------------------------
Still not tested.

JTAG configuration:
-------------------
Working.

DACS:
-----
Correct bahaviour but dynamic range smaller than simulated. Under
unvestigation.

Detailed characterisation of uniformity of parameters to follow when
dedicated test setup is operational.

In summary, the test results so far indicate that the chip is within the
Alice requirements. However, many important details (optimised bias
points, threshold spreads etc...) are missing as yet.

Ken, Michael, Roberto and Walter.


2) First known-good-die Omega3 assemblies from Alenia Marconi Systems
=====================================================================

The first known-good-die assemblies of Omega3 detectors and chips from
AMS (1 ladder, 2 singles) have been tested. The first results are quite
encouraging. The maps from the exposure of the ladder and singles to
beta rays under probe station are visible on the web at the following
address:

http://www.pd.infn.it/alipd/bumpbonding/

As usual, the red colour denotes masked pixels.
While a chip is under test, the neighbouring ones are not powered.
As a result, the boundary columns become noisy, and normally require
masking. 

3) Technical Structure of the Project
=====================================

An important step in our ongoing planning review is the definition of a
technical structure for the project, in correspondence with the project
breakdown structure.
I have appointed Giorgio Stefanini as Technical Coordinator for the SPD
project. Between this and next week, he will initiate discussions with
the various groups, with the aim of defining a draft structure to be
discussed at the Nov 29 SPD meeting.

          All the best,

           Federico