Fiber Bragg Grating sensors for deformation monitoring of GEM foils in HEP detectors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel application of Fiber Bragg Grating sensors for monitoring the flatness and tension of GEM foils in high energy physics detectors, demonstrating their effectiveness in a real-world CERN experiment.

Contribution

The study presents a new use of FBG sensors for mechanical tensioning and flatness monitoring of GEM foils in HEP detectors, with experimental validation on a prototype.

Findings

FBG sensors successfully monitored tension and flatness of GEM foils.

Preliminary tests on a prototype showed promising results.

Potential for future improvements in detector maintenance and performance.

Abstract

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors have been so far mainly used in high energy physics (HEP) as high precision positioning and re-positioning sensors and as low cost, easy to mount, radiation hard and low space- consuming temperature and humidity devices. FBGs are also commonly used for very precise strain measurements. In this work we present a novel use of FBGs as flatness and mechanical tensioning sensors applied to the wide Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) foils of the GE1/1 chambers of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of CERN. A network of FBG sensors has been used to determine the optimal mechanical tension applied and to characterize the mechanical stress applied to the foils. The preliminary results of the test performed on a full size GE1/1 final prototype and possible future developments will be discussed.