Radiation Damage Monitoring in the Upgraded VELO Detector

Abstract

The upgraded VELO (VErtex LOcator) is a lightweight hybrid pixel silicon detector surrounding the interaction region of the Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment. It enables precise reconstruction of primary and secondary vertices using silicon sensors that provide high spatial resolution, fast response, and high-rate capability. The intense radiation environment of the Large Hadron Collider, however, degrades silicon sensors through effects such as increased leakage current, charge trapping, and shifts in depletion voltage. Understanding and quantifying this damage is vital for optimizing detector performance and planning future upgrades. This work presents a data-driven study of radiation damage in the upgraded VELO. By correlating detector hits with predicted fluence, it refines predictive models of radiation effects and supports the development of long-term operational strategies for silicon vertex detectors.