The CDF silicon vertex detector: an overview and test results

The final design and construction of a 46080 channel silicon microstrip vertex detector (SVX) for the Collider Detector Facility (CDF) experiment at the Tevatron collider are described. The system performance of the front end electronics employing a custom VLSI readout chip and the mechanical support and cooling systems for the 0.7 m/sup 2/ silicon detector are discussed. The authors present performance results from initial testing of individual components through final testing of the full system of detectors, readout, cooling, and data acquisition. Preliminary results from cosmic ray triggered data are also described. >