CMS Experiment | Scintillator Tiles for the HiLumi LHC Era

Why It Matters

The upgraded HGCal will give CMS the granularity and timing needed to exploit the HL‑LHC’s ten‑fold increase in data, directly enhancing the experiment’s ability to test the Standard Model and uncover rare phenomena.

Key Takeaways

• CMS upgrades for High-Luminosity LHC require 240k scintillator tiles.
• Tiles convert particle energy into light for precise calorimetry.
• Firmenich lab produced 150,000 tiles; NIU to wrap in reflective foil.
• Reflective foil enhances light collection efficiency toward photodetectors.
• Completed tile modules will be shipped to CERN for integration.

Summary

The CMS experiment at CERN is undergoing a major upgrade to accommodate the High‑Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL‑LHC), which will increase collision rates ten‑fold and demand a new, high‑granularity calorimeter (HGCal).

To meet the HL‑LHC’s precision goals, the detector will incorporate 240,000 plastic scintillator tiles that emit light when traversed by particles. Firmenich Lab and Northern Illinois University (NIU) are jointly producing these tiles; Firmenich has already completed 150,000 units, while NIU will apply a reflective foil and integrate the tiles into sensor‑populated circuit boards.

The scintillator tiles work by exciting molecular bonds, releasing photons that are captured by photodetectors, allowing the system to reconstruct particle energy with fine spatial resolution. The reflective foil surrounding each tile redirects stray photons back into the active material, boosting light yield and measurement accuracy.

Once assembled into tile modules and cassettes, the components will be shipped to CERN for final integration, positioning CMS to deliver unprecedented Standard Model measurements and expand the discovery reach for new physics in the HL‑LHC era.

Original Description

The LHC is preparing to enter a new era. ✨

CERN's High-Luminosity LHC upgrade will increase the number of particle collisions by a factor of 10, opening the door to unprecedented precision in the search for new physics. The CMS detector is leveling up right alongside it — and Fermilab is proud to be a part of it.

We recently completed production of 150,000 scintillator tiles for the CMS experiment detector upgrade, contributing to the future of high-energy physics.

#Fermilab #CERN #HiLumiLHC #ParticlePhysics