STAR TIME OF FLIGHT READOUT ELECTRONICS, DAQ, AND COSMIC RAY TEST STAND

The new Time-of-Flight (TOF) subsystem for STAR at RHIC will have 3840 6-pad Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC) distributed over 120 trays. Each tray contains 192 channels and three types of electronics cards: “TINO”, “TDIG” and “TCPU”. Every 30 trays send data to a “THUB” card that interfaces to STAR trigger and transmits data over fiber to a STAR DAQ fiber receiver. TINO contains analog front end electronics based on the CERN/LAA NINO custom IC. TDIG digitizes the data using the CERN HPTDC ASIC. TCPU formats and buffers the digital information. A cosmic ray test system comprised of three plastic scintillators, 4 MRPC modules, and TOF prototype electronics is used to determine the timing resolution to be achieved for the entire TOF system. Overall timing resolution of 80 – 110 ps has been achieved.