CERN Accelerating science

The ALICE experiment is currently participating in the recently started Run 3 of CERN LHC, in which collision rate and thus data stream rate had been significantly increased with respect to Run 2. Several upgrades were required for ALICE prior to the start or Run 3, including implementation of a new Online-Offline (O2) system to handle the new data flow, and upgrading detectors. For instance, the AD (ALICE Diffractive) was replaced by the new Forward Diffractive Detector (FDD) and included in the Fast Interaction Trigger (FIT) project. Therefore, development of a Detector Control System (DCS) for FDD was necessary. The DCS is one of the fundamental systems of CERN experiments which allows for essential tasks such as remote and safe operation, monitoring, configuration and recording of data. The aim of this work was to collaborate in the design, development and integration of the DCS for FDD, as well as taking part of installation and calibration of the detector. Specific objectives also include communicating the DCS to its corresponding experimental equipment, implementing the FDD-DCS according to the general requirements of the FIT project and the particular ones for FDD, integrating the DCS to the ALICE central DCS observing all of its guidelines, and optimizing the configuration process of FDD through the DCS for data taking. Chapter 1 briefly defines ALICE, FIT, FDD and their main purpose. Chapter 2 describes the components of a DCS, emphasizing the software tools required for its development. Chapter 3 lists the hardware equipment to be controlled by the DCS. Chapter 4 describes the modeling of FDD-DCS as a hierarchical structure composed of finite state machines and explains the design of the various user interface panels for operators. Chapter 5 describes configuration of several DCS features essential for operation: the alarm, archiving and SAFE systems, the trending panels and the automated configuration process. A manuscript based on this work was accepted and published in the Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A scientific journal.