Denys Wilkinson Building, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH
Dr Craig Sawyer, RAL
Abstract
The ATLAS ITk Strip Detector is a key component of the ATLAS Phase-II Upgrade for the High Luminosity LHC, with large-scale production now underway worldwide and final delivery to CERN planned for November 2028. In this seminar, I will present an insider's view of the unexpected technical challenges that have emerged - from the surprising effects that picometer scale vibrations can have on silicon strip modules to the dramatic mechanical failures that can arise from mismatches in thermal expansion across materials and assemblies. I will discuss the underlying physics and engineering behind these issues, how they were diagnosed, and what alternative design or procedural choices might have mitigated them. Most importantly, I will consider the broader lessons these experiences offer for future detector projects.