IRRADIATION TESTS OF A DIGITAL RADIATION-TOLERANT CAMERA FOR CERN’S PARTICLE ACCELERATOR INSTRUMENTATION

Beam imaging systems are integral parts of beam instru- mentation at CERN, measuring the shape, size, and position of particle beams in accelerators. Following the worldwide phasing out of analog cameras and vidicon tubes (which the system was initially based on and still partially uses), part of the ongoing consolidation program involves developing a new camera system based on digital technology for use in CERN’s medium radiation environments up to few 100 Gy total dose. For this purpose, the CERN Beam Instrumentation group initiated the development of a digital camera system in col- laboration with MCSE*, a Swiss company specializing in space instrumentation. The new camera’s performance un- der radiation was evaluated at CERN’s CHARM test facility, with promising results in terms of radiation immunity while maintaining sufficient sensitivity and resolution—which will be the focus of this contribution. Following this prototyping phase, an industrial version is now in development and is expected to undergo testing in 2025.