ATCA for Machines-- Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture
R Larsen · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · 2007
The Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture is a new industry open standard for electronics instrument modules and shelves being evaluated for the International Linear Collider (ILC). It is the first industrial standard designed for High Availability (HA). ILC availability simulations have shown clearly that the capabilities of ATCA are needed in order to achieve acceptable integrated luminosity. The ATCA architecture looks attractive for beam instruments and detector applications as well. This paper provides an overview of ongoing R&D including application of HA principles to power electronics systems. 1 The Case for High Availability in Accelerator Systems Large accelerators and detectors are production machines that require huge investments in capital cost, operations and maintenance for a successful result. In economic terms, a nonfunctioning machine is wasting capital at an enormous rate. Accelerators are typically designed to operate for extended periods on a 24/7 basis, followed by a period of inactivity to allow maintenance and re-staging of experimental apparatus. Ideally, the machines should be designed to run for the mission period without interruption. Such an ideal is rarely met although some modern synchrotron light sources come close.