Field Programmable Gate Arrays - Detecting Cosmic Rays

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are finding extensive application in instrumentation for particle physics experiments. A table-top framework is developed using FPGA-based hardware to detect the coincidence of signals produced by cosmic rays in multiple detectors. The rates of the detector signals and coincidence output are also measured. The logic is programmed inside an FPGA mounted on a Xilinx evaluation board. Control and data readout are carried out using IPbus, a gigabit Ethernet-based protocol developed as part of upgrading the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The framework is appropriate for introducing students to FPGA-based instrumentation and providing them with a practical experience of working with such hardware.