1. IceCube System Testing
John Cavin
22 March 2005

2. Design / Verification Model
System Engineering (Requirements)
System Integration (Solutions)
Project Science Goals
Achieved
Instrument
Performance
System Architecture
Configuration Item Definition
Detailed Design
Requirements
(Manufacturing)
Detailed
Measurements
Incremental System Build-Up & On-going Assessment
System Verification
Comparisons between Requirements and achieved performance are made at each level in the System Hierarchy, starting with the simplest items and culminating in demonstration of overall instrument functionality.

3. IceCube System Testing Facilities
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
System Test Facility
South Pole Test System (SPTS)
South Pole System (SPS)

4. Other IceCube Testing Facilities
SPLTS – LBNL DAQ subsystem test
DOM MB LBNL plus vendor testing
Pensar – Board testing of flasher board, high voltage base
Chiba – PMT testing

5. Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
Verify operation of newly manufactured DOMs
Operate over temperature cycles
Obtain calibration data
Consists of PSL, DESY, Uppsala:
Dark Freezer Lab (DFL)
TestDAQ software
DOM Test software

6. South Pole Test System (SPTS)
Operational configuration of deployed system
Integrate software/hardware subsystems
Test software in the “real” environment
Test deployment methods
Reproduce/debug problems in Northern Hemisphere
Create the software versions that are released for use at the South Pole

7. South Pole System (SPS)
Operational IceCube System at the South Pole

8. PY03 Deployment Questions
Will the HW/SW deployed at the South Pole Work?
How can we gain confidence and/or find show stoppers before we deploy?

9. PY03 Hardware Configuration Items (CI) and Functional Interfaces
Surface Cable Assy
Tank 1
In-Ice
DOM Hub
TCH
Patch
Panel
Surface
Junction
Box
IceTop
DOM
Surface to DOM
Cable Assy
In-Ice
Instrumentation
IceTop
Freeze Power
IceTop
DOM Hub
IceTop
Freeze Control
IceTop
Freeze Power
IceTop
DOM T-
DOM
IceTop
Freeze Control
IceTop
Freeze Power
x 30 U-
DOM
IceTop
Freeze Control
Paro
Tank 2
Keller

10. Created System Test Facility
Provide a realistic test environment
Test subsystems
Interfaces
End to end data transfer
Consists of:
DOMs in Chest Freezers
Surface to DOM Cables
Surface Junction Box
Surface Cables
DOMHubs
Test Software and/or Operational Software

13. System Integration Testing Goals- First Season
Discover issues associated with interfaces and device interactions prior to deployment
Demonstrate basic operation of software and hardware in a realistic system configuration
Demonstrate dataflow through the test system
Demonstrate basic timing and local coincidence behavior
Establish a readily accessible test-bed for interpreting SP system behavior
Establish an off-line resource for continuing software development
Begin formal verification of devices and subsystems

14. Demonstrated under controlled conditions:
Simultaneous, stable, operation of In-Ice and IceTop DOM
Simultaneous, stable, operation of Sensor Subsystem and IceTop Freeze Control / Power Subsystems
Reliable DOM operation under realistic conditions
No test DOM failures to date
Reliable DOM Hub operation under realistic conditions
One SBC card failure, root cause investigation still open

15. Formal Engineering Verification at System Level
Capability is now in place for Sensor Subsystem verification
Fundamental tests defined and waiting for operator resources to conduct:
Part One: Establish Timing Baseline
Part Two: TCAL Rate Sensitivity Analysis
Part Three: Hit Input / Reporting Linearity
Part Four: Communications Stability in the Presence of Noise
Part Five: Timing Performance in the Presence of Noise
Results can be available to support PY05 design decisions, but not in time to guide PY04

16. Scheduled Uses
Complete timing and local coincidence testing – 30 Apr 2005
Investigate Quad 2 problem – 30 May 2005
Integration and Test of DOR Rev 1 cards, DAQ FPGA, and DAQ software – 1Jun 2005 thru 31 Jul 2005
Move System test facility – 31Jul 2005 – 30 Aug 2005
Support software testing – 1 Sep
Noise sensitivity of communications and timing –

17. Results of PY03 System Testing
Putting system together uncovered issues:
Connector soldering problems
Communication with IceTop DOMs on short cable
Communication Testing over all cables
Lots of work to do:
Timing characterization under controlled environment
Will utilize test resources to understand and interpret behavior observed on String 21
Integration and test of DOR Rev1, DAQ FPGA, DAQ software
Support software development / check-out /certification prior to use at the pole.

18. Proposed Changes for Overall Testing Facilities
Need to better utilize available space and resources

20. Conclusions
Hardware and software testing will remain an important part of IceCube
Capability exists to perform tests under a more controlled environment
Released software will require rigorous testing before deployment to the South Pole
PY03 testing contributed to success at South Pole