ALICE Physics Data Processing in LHC Run 3 and Run 4

by Andreas Morsch (CERN)

Wednesday 17 Jan 2024, 10:00 → 11:00 Europe/Zurich

31/3-004 - IT Amphitheatre (CERN)

The ALICE experiment was originally designed as a relatively low-rate experiment, mainly due to constraints imposed by the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) readout system utilising MWPCs. However, following hardware upgrades during the LHC LS2, which include a GEM-based continuous readout for the TPC, ALICE is now capable of operating at a peak Pb-Pb collision rate of 50 kHz. Notably, all events are processed, reconstructed, compressed, and written to permanent storage without relying on any selective triggers.

The talk will describe the newly implemented ALICE online data processing system, specifically designed to handle the substantial raw data rate of ~3.5 TB/s generated by the detectors. First experience with the 2023 high-rate Pb-Pb data taking will be presented. Additionally, an overview of the enhanced software frameworks for reconstruction, calibration, simulation, and analysis will be provided, highlighting the advancements made to optimise the entire data processing chain.

About the speaker
After his PhD in the UA1 experiment Andreas joined in 1992 the CERN Accelerator Technology Department as a Fellow. In 1995 he became member of the ALICE Collaboration responsible for the physics performance evaluation and optimisation of the forward muon spectrometer as well as radiation studies. Past roles in the ALICE experiment comprise the coordination of the simulation framework development, convener of the High-pt and Photons Physics Working Group and of the Physics Performance Working Group, and Deputy Physics Coordinator.

Andreas is currently the leader of the O2 Physics Data Processing project (PDP); Software, Physics Data Processing and Computing (SDC) Coordinator, and leader of the CERN ALICE Physics and Computing Group (EP-AIP).

IT Seminar 2024.pdf

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