Quality control testing of the AMAC ASIC for the HL-LHC ATLAS ITk Strip Detector

Abstract

AbstractThe ATLAS detector requires an all new inner detector, the Inner Tracker (ITk), due to the high-luminosity upgrade to the LHC (HL-LHC). The AMACStar chip is one of three radiation hard ASICs that will be installed on the ITk Strip subdetector modules. The ASIC operates autonomously and its function is to monitor and control the temperatures, voltages, and currents in the module components, preventing these quantities from reaching dangerous levels. A total of 18000 AMACStars are needed for the ITk Strip subsystem. Wafers of these chips are probed at the University of Pennsylvania. Comprehensive probe-station testing software and procedures have been developed in order to verify the digital and analog functionality of every AMACStar. A detailed grading scheme is applied to determine which chips should be installed on the modules. The results from probing the first 11 wafers with the final design satisfy the required 90% yield needed for production goals. Probing of production AMACStar wafers began in December 2022 and will continue throughout 2023.