Four Decades of Computing in Subnuclear Physics - from Bubble Chamber to LHC

TL;DR

This paper reviews the evolution of computing hardware and software in subnuclear physics over four decades, highlighting advances from photographic film to modern multi-channel electronic detectors at LHC.

Contribution

It provides a personal historical perspective on the development of computing techniques and infrastructure in subnuclear physics experiments.

Findings

Significant technological advancements in detector electronics

Transition from manual to automated data reconstruction

Enhanced simulation capabilities for particle interactions

Abstract

This manuscript addresses selected aspects of computing for the reconstruction and simulation of particle interactions in subnuclear physics. Based on personal experience with experiments at DESY and at CERN, I cover the evolution of computing hardware and software from the era of track chambers where interactions were recorded on photographic film up to the LHC experiments with their multi-million electronic channels.