Research and training network advances high-throughput, low-latency online data acquisition
The EU-funded ICE-DIP(opens in new window) (Intel-CERN European doctorate industrial program) project developed next-generation techniques for acquiring and processing data relevant to the trigger and data acquisition systems of experiments for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. ICE-DIP trained 5 doctoral students in leading ICTs, completing a minimum of 18-month secondments at Intel locations around the world. They gained immense experience in the latest Intel hardware. The fellows prepared methods necessary for acquiring and processing hundreds of terabits per second by using and expanding the most innovative concepts available in today’s ICT industry. They explored new areas, including silicon photonics for network links in adverse operational conditions, and tight integration of reconfigurable logic with commodity processors to bring new approaches to data acquisition. Specifically, the researchers developed a power-efficient, low-cost and high-bandwidth data link based on silicon photonics that can operate in harsh environments. They designed a high-performance data pre-processing system that integrates commodity central processing units and field-programmable gate arrays. A cost-effective, high-bandwidth data acquisition network capable of multi-terabit lossless throughput using commodity components was also assembled. In addition, a massively scalable data filtering system that fully exploits the parallelism of many-core processor architectures and is programmable using industry-standard x86 models was designed and prototyped. Findings open up new opportunities in the field of high-performance data acquisition, aiming towards and beyond technological novelties such as silicon photonics, the Intel Xeon Phi co-processor and the ever-growing family of Intel Xeon processors. ICE-DIP enhanced the research potential, competitiveness and employment opportunities of promising scientists while accelerating European science. What is more, it further strengthened CERN’s long-standing relationship with Intel through CERN openlab – a unique public-private partnership that accelerates the development of cutting-edge solutions for the worldwide LHC community and wider scientific research.