**[90-92]{.underline}**

I started working at LBL in the summer of 1990 on the WALIC (Warm Liquid
Calorimeter) project for SDC. My worked involved the responsibility of
test beam activities at FNAL and montecarlo studies of compensation of
iron/TMP and lead/TMP sampling calorimeters for SDC.

**[92-93]{.underline}**

• Since the beginning \'92 I am collaborating with the
SDC-LBL-Calorimeter Group (Co-leaders R.Kadel, M.Pripstein). After
participating to the preparation for the test at Brookhaven of a
16-tower ECEM prototype last summer (my responsibility was the DAQ) I
took care of preparing the software for the analysis of the test beam
data. Eventually this software was taken over and implemented with new
algorithms for track reconstruction by a graduate student who is working
with our group since beginning \'93 and who I had to partially
supervise.

• Towards the end of \'92 and the first few months of \'93 I was pretty
much fully involved in the preparation for the cosmic ray test at LBL of
the same prototype that was tested in the summer \'92 at Brookhaven. My
responsibility was to set up the electronics (trigger and read-out) and
the DAQ.

• Since a few months I have also been concentrating on the preparation
for the new ECEM prototype test to be performed at the Cern SPS/PS in
the fall \'93.

My responsibility is to provide a new DAQ System based on UNIX platform
and using VME/CAMAC. I am also working on the set up of the electronics
related to the trigger and read-out. I will be going to Cern to install
the complete electronics-DAQ system and I will be staying there for the
duration of the test.

• I am also part of the Portable DAQ group (G.Abrams, P.LeDu and
myself).

Last year we submitted a proposal to the LDRD (is indicated in the list
of funded proposal)

and we obtained funding for FY 93. This year we submitted a proposal.
again (continuation) as we would like to continue to pursue the project
of a Portable DAQ with new tools (especially in the area of the GUI).

• Last fall, I concluded my work for WALIC by finishing up the analysis
of the last FNAL test beam data. This produced the papers that are
indicated in the list of this report.

**[93-94]{.underline}**

• I have been collaborating with the LBL-Calorimeter Group (Co-leaders
R.Kadel, M.Pripstein) since beginning \'92 until the end of the SSC last
October. Therefore, during the second half of 1993 I have been
continuing my involvement on the preparation for the ECEM prototype test
to be performed at the Cern SPS/PS in the late summer \'93, which took
place in fact at the end of August until mid-September.

My responsibility was to provide a new DAQ System based on UNIX platform
and using VME/CAMAC. This was the \"SDC Portable DAQ\" named UNIDAQ that
was developed for testing of SDC prototypes by members of the SDC
collaboration. The system needed to be installed and adapted to our
hardware configuration, therefore I participate on its implementation
and debugging. LBL was the first group trying to use this system for
test beam, therefore I played a major role on the debugging of its
components. I was also working on debugging the electronics related to
the trigger and read-out. I went to Cern to participate to the test of
the calorimeter prototype for the whole length of the test. Since my
main occupation and responsibility was in the installation and debugging
of the full electronics-DAQ system, I actually spent one week prior the
actual starting of the data taking working on the installation of the
system.

• In November \'93, even though the SSC was terminated, we completed the
test of the ECEM prototype at the PS, as already planned, so I went to
CERN again to follow up the \"new\" installation and debugging of the
DAQ system and to participate to the actual test.

Both tests were very successful.

• After that, I spent some time looking around and meditating about my
future, and I decided to join both LBL groups working on the B-Factory
detector and on ATLAS.

-- For the B-Factory detector, I started to think about the simulation
of the Trigger/DAQ system by using MODSIM (Object Oriented Language). I
spent sometime learning the MODSIM language and I participated in some
of the discussions about the design of the DAQ system.

I also started to help with the data acquisition for the test of the
Particle ID detector prototype (DIRC) that the LBL group is planning to
perform in the fall. Still for the DIRC, recently I have been partially
supervising a summer student, in particular helping him with the
electronics setup and the Labview program for the test of photo
multiplier tubes to be used for the future prototype test. I am
currently working on setting up the full DAQ system for the test of the
real prototype in the fall.

-- As part of the ATLAS/LBL group, I will participate on setting up the
test benches for the silicon and pixel detectors that the LBL group is
planning to test and provide to ATLAS. In the future, probably early
1995, there will be a test at the CERN-SPS of the pixel detector that
LBL is going to build, and I will work on the data acquisition and
read-out for it. This will require a considerable interaction with the
ATLAS/test beam personnel at CERN. I will start establishing these
contacts during the next ATLAS week that I will attend at the end of
June.

• During the last six months, I also developed a strong interest on the
Fibre Channel technology for event building architecture after some
discussions with ATLAS collaborators involved in the daq group and daq
simulation group. I participated to the ATLAS collaboration meeting at
the beginning of the year (end of January) where I also gave a talk to
the ATLAS collaboration about the Fibre Channel technology and a
possible LBL contribution to the experiment with an R&D consisting of a
test bed with a Fibre Channel based switch and VME interfaces. Later on
(April), I decided to write an LDRD proposal in which I requested
(together with ICSD and Nuclear Science scientists) to be funded for a
research and development involving the test of a Fibre Channel based
switch with VME interfaces for event building studies. If the LDRD will
not be approved and funded by the LBL Director, it seems that
unfortunately, for budgetary and strategic reasons, I wont be able to
pursue this R&D. I will follow its developments though, and eventually
take advantage of it in the future.

• I am currently part of the Portable DAQ group (G.Abrams, P.LeDu and
myself). Last year we submitted an LDRD proposal (for continuation) and
we obtained funding for FY 94. Its reference is indicated in the list of
funded proposal. This year work involves the implementation of a DAQ
system using all the control features of the EPICS software for control
and monitoring of the DAQ software components.

**[94-95]{.underline}**

1\) June \'94 is exactly when it became clear what my involvement in the
LBL (now LBNL) ATLAS group would be. In fact I started to focus on
designing and building the data acquisition system for the silicon and
pixel detector test benches. The plan was to implement in parallel two
test benches which will evolve from a simple test code and readout
modules towards the final ATLAS Test Beam DAQ system, fully compatible
from the point of view of both the VME hardware and software. I then
succeeded in establishing very good contacts with other ATLAS groups
involved in the Inner Detector/Barrel Sector Prototype testing during
the ATLAS Collaboration Meeting (ATLAS week) that I attended at the end
of June. This was a very special time to be involved in this subject
because the discussions of the design of the final ATLAS Test Beam DAQ
were just happening and I could still play an important role in the
design process, which I did. I kept close communication with the CERN
groups while at LBL and then I also attended the September and November
ATLAS weeks, continuing the discussion on the same subject. The decision
about a common test beam DAQ for the pixel/strips/TRT was finally taken
at the end of November and I could finally lead the discussion about the
preparation for the Test Beam DAQ system among the silicon strips and
pixel groups based on a definite architecture.

2\) On the basis of the Test Beam Architecture, I also played a major
role in defining the requirements for the design of the pixel/strips DSP
readout card.

3\) I organized very successfully a one day meeting at CERN on Pixel DAQ
for the \'95 beam test, where for the first time, several people from
the various institutions involved in the ATLAS Pixel system,
participated in a common discussion about the pixel test beam DAQ. The
pixel system is unfortunately not going to be ready for beam test this
year therefore all my efforts to form the Pixel DAQ system/group are on
hold for the time being. I believe though that what I have accomplished
so far in the organization of the DAQ for the pixel modules, will be
resumed as soon as we have a new schedule for testing.

4\) In the past few months I have been concentrating my work on the
silicon strips only. The test bench is ready to be used (as soon as the
chips will be available) and the ATLAS Test Beam DAQ is completely
installed and very close to being functional.

5\) In March \'95, the LBL/ATLAS group organized an ATLAS-SCT workshop
which took place at LBL and lasted for a week. The attendance was very
impressive (around 90 participants from many US and non-US ATLAS
institutions). During that meeting I continued the discussion about
common test beam DAQ with my ATLAS colleagues and I organized a very
useful session on \"Test Beam DAQ\" where more details regarding the
preparation for this year\'s test beam running were discussed.

6\) From June \'94 until December \'95, in parallel to my strong
commitment to ATLAS, I continued to work on BaBar to fulfill my
commitments with the DIRC group. My name in fact appears on the BaBar
Letter of the Intent (June \'94). I had the responsibility of providing
the data acquisition system (readout electronics and software) for the
upcoming beam test of a DIRC prototype being built at LBL (the beam test
at the CERN PS took place just recently). I was at the point of having a
satisfactory system and very close to the final setup, when the new
divisional fellow (David Brown), who started to work at LBL last
December, decided to join the DIRC group. My commitment to the DIRC
project ended as soon as I realized that the overlap with him was enough
to pass on to him the responsibility for the DAQ system.

7\) Besides my heavy commitments in the DAQ arena, I have been working
also on side activities (mostly using my limited spare time) such as the
creation of the LBL/ATLAS pages on WWW to improve the communication
between the LBL group and the overall ATLAS collaboration, and the
participation in the editing of large documents, like the Pixel Backup
Document for the ATLAS proposal. This is a large document, 203 pages,
whose goal was to provide a complete detailed description of the subject
of Pixels for the ATLAS proposal. The proposal itself had a limit on the
number of pages set by the LHCC, and therefore couldn\'t cover in great
detail every subject. Many other backup documents were created on the
other main topics appearing in the ATLAS proposal. In particular for the
Pixel Backup Document I provided in postscript format the many figures
appearing in the specific chapters provided by the LBL/Pixel group. My
name is included also in the author-list of the SCT
(Semi-Conductor-Tracker) Backup Document for the ATLAS Technical
Proposal since I am an active member of that group, and, needless to say
I am part of the ATLAS Technical proposal. I also contributed to the
U.S. ATLAS proposal, a document whose intent was to make a proposal to
the DOE and NSF to participate in the ATLAS experiment.

8\) The biggest extra initiative I have been taken this year has been
the one involving WWW. Last December I thought it was important for the
LBL Physics Division to appear on the Web as part of the Scientific
Program of the Lab. I proposed this idea to the Physics Division leader
and had his approval to go ahead. I therefore called a division meeting
where I was very pleased to see that at least one representative of each
group attended. Besides the practical use that each group can make of
the Web (exchanging information for working purposes), I think that it
is very important that students, teachers, etc. can read about our
programs using this wonderful tool, namely I believe this is an easy way
to contribute to public outreach. I proposed a design of the WWW page
that was accepted and in a few weeks (as soon as I received most of the
text/figures from most of the groups \-- fortunately only in few cases I
had to overcome lack of cooperation) I had a preliminary version of the
Physics Division page. The page has been improving in the last few
months, but I think at this point it is pretty much complete. I have
been also active in educating several people on the use of the Web,
including the language and the page design, within the Physics Division
and Nuclear Science Division. I\'m still fully maintaining the Physics
Division page (and many of the sub-pages). I\'m very pleased with this
personal achievement.

**[95-96]{.underline}**

1\) The summer \'95 Beam Test at H8.

I participated very intensively to the preparation for the summer \'95
beam test at H8. My main responsibility was to implement the binary
readout part in the general H8 DAQ system, which I could test
preliminary at LBNL having the same hardware configuration as H8, and
the calibration code for the strips modules. I initially spent quite
some time debugging (both on the hardware and software point of view)
the DSP boards from UCI which just appeared around the middle of May
\'95 and for which I had participated in all discussion about
requirements in the previous several months. The few weeks before the
actual test beam period, I spent long hours in the lab testing the
modules as they were being ready to test, working very closely with Carl
Haber and Helmuth Spieler. I then left to CERN with most of the DAQ
modules and cable in one of my luggage. The beam test took place at the
H8 ATLAS test beam in the CERN North Area in the middle of August \'95
for 2 weeks, and for one more week in the middle of September. We tested
several modules consisting of radiation-hard strip detector, and the
readout chain comprising two types of IC\'s (both of 128 channels): one
of the two types of analog chip used utilizing radiation-hard bipolar
transistor technology (CAFE), and a digital chip fabricated in
radiation-hard CMOS (CDP128). We measured efficiency of inclined tracks,
bias voltage dependence, position resolution and signal/noise ratio. The
tests were very successful.

I had the responsibility of the binary readout DAQ and played a key role
on the coordination and integration of the LBL system into the ATLAS H8
test beam since we were taking data together with the entire
ATLAS-strips community.

2\) Lab activities.

• I am responsible for the test bench (both software and hardware DAQ)
and I am constantly involved in testing of the various modules that are
being prepared for different occasions, like irradiation test at the
88\" cyclotron, beam test at KEK, test of new modules (like the Z
modules) etc. etc. My calibration code and kumac for analysis are
continuously evolving and updating for new measurements like the very
recent ones involving the laser and the source setup.

• I have been training and supervising the visiting post-doc from
Valencia (Julio Lozano) who is going to be with the LBNL/ATLAS group for
2 years. This has been a very successful and rewarding activity since it
worked out pretty well and now Julio is more or less capable of doing
independent work in the lab and he recently started to be a big help for
me on the module testing.

• I have been training and supervising one under-grad student (Juana
Rudati) who has been working with me for more than 6 months. The project
she has been assigned to concerned the translation of the probe station
code from Fortran to C language in the context of moving the chip test
stand from VMS to UNIX and from CAMAC/Jorway interface to VICBus. Her
work involved learning Unix OS, C and Fortran languages. It took longer
than I anticipated but now we are very close to conclude this work. I am
also supervising another couple of students (with J. Siegrist) who have
been involved in the same project, in particular developing the GUI in
tcl/tk, Jason Novotny who just left and Lee Loveridge who just joined
the group for the summer \'96 (Lee is starting graduate school at UCB in
the fall).

• I have been following very closely the work concerning the set up of
the laser and source stands, in particular helping out M.Momayezi on
getting started especially on the software to control via GPIB the PMC
(programmable motion controller) which allows to move the module under
the laser beam and perform automatic position and threshold scans. I
then performed with Julio all kind of calibration studies of the PMC for
reproducibility, corrections for back lash etc. The source setup is
under reconfiguration and I have been working on modifying the
calibration code to accept external triggers (the ones coming from the
coincidence of two PMT when particles are produced by the source).

• I have been helping out the post-doc from Wisconsin (Daemon Fasching)
on getting settled with the test of the readout boards for the pixel
system. I provided him with the framework necessary to test and develop
pixel-DSP code and debug of the PLL (Pixel Low Level Card), i.e., the
hardware consisting of the general DSP readout board in the VME crate
used for the strips (strips and pixels are still in a sharing mode for
the moment until we duplicate the DAQ hardware) and all the software
used for the strips calibration, most of which is in common between the
two systems and can be used as a model for the development of the
calibration code for the pixel.

In general, I provide leadership and guidance for lab newcomers
(students and visitors) and I try to keep things moving whenever there
is a vacuum in the leadership of the lab activities, a position in which
I find myself very often being very much involved in everything is
happening in the lab.

3\) Support to the European groups.

I have been very much involved in helping European groups to setting up
their test benches for binary readout modules. Besides being one of the
main hosts for visiting people to our lab, I have been one of the main
people in the LBNL/Atlas group responsible in providing a working
readout system, calibration code, and calibration data analysis paw
tools (kumac). This is quite an involving activity and it requires
keeping in contact with the various groups (so far University of
Geneva-CH, Liverpool-UK, Cambridge-UK) whenever they need to consult for
problems. This is a quite satisfactory activity and I think very
important for the continuos success of the binary readout.

4\) Preparation for the summer \'96 beam test at H8.

I am clearly completely involved in this crucial preparation. This
involves the complete test and calibration of new modules (two
irradiated at the 88\" cyclotron and one not irradiated to be used as
reference), the completion of the laser studies (strips uniformity,
boundary etc.) and detector signal levels with the source. In addition,
my primary responsibility involves the complete test of the DAQ system
in order to solve problems (both hardware and software) that can be much
more difficult to deal with once we are at H8 and just before the
starting of the actual data taking.

5\) WWW activity.

This is a side activity I pursue mostly in my spare time, and I consider
very crucial since it allows the LBNL/Atlas group to be in complete
contact with the rest of the collaboration in exchanging information,
papers, documentation, etc., it has been attracting students to work
with the LBNL/Atlas group, and in general it gives the group some extra
visibility.

I also still keep maintaining the LBNL Physics Division page and besides
the ATLAS subpage, some of the other subpages (like the ones of BaBar,
and Physics division memos -- whenever Betty or Judy need to put on the
Web something like agendas of Reviews)

**[97-98]{.underline}**

> **1)** **Lab activities**.
>
> [STRIPS]{.underline}
>
> • I am responsible for the strips test benches in the LBNL ATLAS Lab
> (both software and hardware DAQ). The following is the list of
> activities I have been performing to fulfill this responsibility:
>
> ⇒ I keep updating the calibration code with improved I/O features, a
> new version with ABC/ABCD readout, and settings and controls via the
> Cambridge Bias-Card (BC96).
>
> ⇒ I am making the calibration code portable between VME-processor
> (RAID) and PC/NT/NI system, and I will ultimately release a version
> for distribution to the ATLAS SCT community.
>
> ⇒ I continue to improve the DAQ system, in particular, my future goal
> is to build a GUI in Labwindows for the PC/NT/NI system, and a version
> of the code optimized for irradiation tests (this is actually very
> close to be completed).
>
> • I have an active role within the ATLAS SCT community. I'm the LBNL
> contact for the SCT-DAQ group which involves discussions on common
> choices for test benches based on standard platforms and readout
> systems, portability of code for strips readout, systems for
> irradiation tests.
>
> • I participate on testing chips, when bonded on a hybrid.
>
> • I supervise, and mostly give support to the work of a Post-Doc and a
> Visiting Scientist within the LBNL Strips group: besides participating
> directly on testing, debugging and writing code for chips/ hybrids
> /modules, I also support the work of others by helping with computing
> problems, locate hardware equipment, get mechanical parts built,
> debugging of various parts of the system.

In particular, just in the last month, I helped, quite substantially, to
get the ABC/ABCD test going and up to speed. And a few months ago a
spent quite sometime teaching Labview to our visitor (including Carl)
while trying also to understand and debug the Labview code from RAL for
the module assembly setup.

> [PIXEL]{.underline}
>
> • I have been participating to the April '98 beam test at the CERN H8.
> I helped with the DAQ installation at H8.
>
> My involvement with the pixel group at LBNL consists mainly on
> providing support and advise for computing and test bench setup. And
> of course, help with documents editing, graphics, WWW pages as part of
> my misc. activities (see below).
>
> **2) Miscellaneous Activities.**
>
> • **Computing**: I manage in detail the computing needs of the group.
> I make sure that machines are upgraded, the software properly
> installed and running, that enough disk space is available for all our
> needs, and all our new students/visitors are all set to work.
>
> • **Office space**: I follow in detail the office space problem. In
> particular, whenever a new student/visitor joins the group I make sure
> that a suitable space becomes available and it's ready for them.
>
> • **Lab space**: I have been providing all along useful ideas (I
> think) on how to use the space more efficiently between the strips and
> pixel project (including pixel mechanics). In particular, the current
> arrangement follows entirely a proposal I made last year and I keep
> improving little details when needed. In general, I follow, coordinate
> rather, on a volunteer basis, the operations in the lab, concerning
> improvement of the layout, finding equipment (and get rid of obsolete
> equipment!), make sure people follow basic rules, make sure people are
> aware of radiation safety rules, and try to keep it clean and
> organized.

• **WWW**: I create and maintain the LBNL ATLAS Web pages with
continuous updates of documents, figures, pictures and text for both
pixel and strips projects. And I still take care of the Physics Division
Home Page (including providing support and guidance for the
administrators who helps maintaining a few pages like the Division
Office News and Seminars). I carry on my WWW activities mainly during my
own time, outside the regular working hours, except for the scanning
operations which clearly I have to do necessarily in my office where the
scanner is.

**[98-99]{.underline}**

1)  **Strips and Pixel.**

> • **Strips:** I produced a PC/WNT version of the old calibration
> program, calabc (last year upgrade of calrun with ABC-CAFÉ and ABCD
> readout). We have used calabc on a RAID-CES processor running Lynx-OS
> in VME extensively until a few months ago to test strips modules. Both
> versions don\'t include a Graphical User Interface (GUI) but only
> in-line I/O interface. I then felt we needed a new version of the same
> code equipped with a nice Graphical User Interface. I just completed
> this task by porting calabc in Labwindows/CVI. This system still
> addresses the traditional readout boards (DSP and BC96) but my goal
> was to have an improved backup solution in case the next generation of
> modules will be ready before the new test system is completely
> debugged. In addition, this would let me exercise the capabilities of
> Labwindows and get the necessary expertise to be able to develop in
> that environment the next generation of code for the new test system.
> Only very recently, we have decided to go in the direction of ROOT and
> C++ programming language, namely to write a program using ROOT as a
> complete framework including GUI, DAQ and monitoring with the new test
> system. I\'m in the process of learning C++ and developing the ROOT
> system to run on WNT using Visual C++.
>
> My program in Labwindows will therefore serve the only purpose of
> being a backup system.
>
> I\'m also supervising the visiting graduate student from Valencia who
> is participating on this new development for the summer.
>
> • **Pixel:** I started a few months ago to be involved in the
> evaluation of database systems suitable for the pixel production
> database. In particular, I have been getting more and more familiar
> with the system developed for the SCT project (Oracle based, with Web
> interface and Java scripts). I have initiated a discussion with the
> SCT about the possibility of implementing the pixel interface in their
> system or developing a similar system in parallel.

2)  **General Activities.**

> • **WWW:** I create and maintain the LBNL ATLAS Web pages with
> continuous updates of documents, figures, pictures and text for both
> pixel and strips. I also maintain the Physics Division Home Page
> (including providing support and guidance for the administrators
> working on maintaining the pages such as the Division Office News and
> Seminars).
>
> • **Local** **Computing:** I manage the computing needs of the
> LBL-ATLAS group. I make sure that machines are upgraded, any software
> is properly installed, enough disk space is available for all group
> needs, and all new students/visitors are all set to work efficiently.
>
> • **Office space:** I follow the office space problem. In particular,
> whenever a new student/visitor joins the group I make sure that a
> suitable space becomes available and it's ready for them.
>
> • **Lab space:** I have been providing all along useful ideas (I
> think) on how to use the space more efficiently between the strips and
> pixel project. In general, I follow any operation in the lab,
> concerning improvement of the layout, finding equipment (and get rid
> of obsolete equipment!), make sure people follow basic rules, make
> sure people are aware of radiation safety rules, and try to keep it
> clean and organized.

3)  **CSAC and CCSC.**

> Last October I was nominated by Jim Siegrist Computer Liaison for the
> Physics Division and asked to represent the division in two lab-wide
> committees, CSAC (Computing and Communications Services Advisory
> Committee) and CCSC (Computer and Communications Security Committee).
>
> CSAC serves as an advisory committee to Computing Sciences by
> providing input regarding Computing Sciences services and its
> infrastructure in support of Berkeley Laboratory. CSAC serves Berkeley
> Laboratory by advising Division members of current services available
> from Computing Sciences. I have been heavily involved in this
> committee since the beginning by playing a major role in advising the
> Lab management to change the LBNL home page in order to emphasize its
> scientific look (the current page clearly lacks of that). I have been
> asked by the CSAC chairman to form a CSAC sub-committee to advise
> directly the Public Communication Department and the Lab management on
> this task. I have written a two-page memo on behalf of CSAC and
> presented it to the committee during one of our meetings. I then
> personally presented it to Pier Oddone and got his approval to go
> ahead with this idea. I subsequently had a meeting jointly with Pier
> and Ron Kolb to discuss the points and concerns expressed in the memo
> and all recommendations where accepted. We should see a new improved
> LBNL web page this summer.
>
> The Computer and Communications Security Committee (CCSC) is chaired
> by the Computer Protection Program Manager (CPPM) and includes
> Computer Security Liaisons from each division. The CCSC assists the
> CPPM in developing, implementing, and administering Lab computer
> security policies. One of the first things I was asked to provide as I
> became part of this committee was the complete list of all the
> computers in the Physics Division (and all their relevant information)
> to be used for the Lab-wide computer security database (now very close
> to completion). This was a big task that took over three months to
> complete (with great help from Jim Dodge) and my list was the first
> one to be provided to the CPPM and clearly made the Physics Division
> to look good.
>
> Both committees meet once a month.

**[1999-2000]{.underline}**

Over the summer of 1999 I worked on the software for testing of ABC/ABCD
SCT modules. The system was developed on Visual C++ for reading out
through the VME/FPGA board designed by H. Niggli and used ROOT for data
display and analysis. I worked together with (and supervised) a visiting
graduate student from Valencia who was participating on this new
development for the summer.

I participated on the SCT test beam in September '99 at the H8/CERN. We
tested quite successfully single sided modules with ABC and CAFÉ chips.

During my visit at CERN I also organized a meeting with the University
of Geneva group and invited a few representatives of the pixel community
to evaluate the Data Base system that the Geneva group had been
developing for quite sometime for SCT. The result of that meeting
brought to the decision of adopting the same system for pixel. Later on
I was nominated the contact person for the pixel electronics and disk
mechanics production database.

**[2000-2001]{.underline}**

# 

# SCT Wafer Screening Test System

In March 2001 I took on a leadership role for the continuation of the
production of the SCT ASIC Test System started by H. Niggli (who left on
March 17, 2000). The system at that time considered near completion was
expected to be used by the SCT collaboration, in particular by the three
wafer screening sites: CERN, RAL and UCSC. My job consisted of
coordinating the production of the new intermediate boards (the
so-called Pindriver and Connector Boards), the debugging of the already
existing VME board equipped with FPGA and run with a complicate VHDL
code, and the design of new probe card. The system turned out to be not
near completion at all and most of year 2000 was spent performing an
infinite amount of hardware debugging, VHDL completion and debugging,
and production of all new upgraded boards. The first working system was
delivered late in the year. Besides the coordination of the hardware
production I also had to follow very closely the production of the
on-line and off-line software done outside LBL (at CERN and Valencia)
and this has been quite a challenging job as well. We delivered the
first 3 final systems at the beginning of 2001. The last few months have
been quite intense trying to solve the remaining hardware problems and
mostly to get the software to be fully operational and robust. The PRR
of July 4 increased the scope of the project greatly because of the need
to demonstrate by that deadline all sites could perform wafer screening
within the smallest marginal difference. With all the institutions
involved at this point my coordination job has become even more
challenging. In April I submitted a paper (an abstract and a summary)
about the tester and I prepared a very detailed "Tester Description"
document for the PRR. I also produced and still maintain a quite
comprehensive set of web pages on this system.

## SCT Module testing

I have the responsibility to set up and carry on the production module
testing and burn-in at LBNL. I am currently testing one hybrid (in
particular temperature dependence of noise, gain and offset measurement)
and supervising one under-graduate student (who will write a thesis on
module electrical performance at the end of his work in the spring 2002)
and 2 interns students.

I'm planning to set up a multi-module and multi-hybrid test system and
burn-in for the 700-module production starting next year.

## CSAC and CPIC

In parallel to my research work I continue to serve in the Computing and
Communications Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) as the representative
of the Physics Division. Since the beginning of the year I chair a
CSAC-ITSD working group that is investigating whether an institutional
mid-range computing resource would be appropriate and/or sustainable for
Berkeley Lab. We just produced, in fact, a formal document (Assessing
and Defining the Future of Institutional Scientific Computing Resources
at Berkeley Lab) in which we present our goals.

This effort will involve an informational campaign to raise awareness of
the increasing role of computational science. This will be followed by
surveys of individual researchers and Lab groups to assess the level of
interest in an institutional resource. If there is sufficient interest,
a procurement process and a sustainable financial model would be
finalized. Lastly, the findings and recommendations will be presented in
a detailed and implementable proposal to Laboratory management for
consideration.

I'm also a member of the Computer Protection Implementation Committee
(CPIC, former CCSC) as a liaison for the Physics Division. In fact, a
few months ago I chaired a CSAC sub-committee to redefine the role of
this committee and rewrite the new charter for its members.