Characterizing the VFAT3 chip for the DAQ electronics of the CMS detector

As part of the next long shutdown of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) from 2018 to 2020, the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment is planned to be upgraded, namely by means of the GE1/1 project implementing a new gas detector technology. This master thesis contributes to characterizing the newest version of the VFAT chip which is the first element in the acquisition (DAQ) electronics of the detector. After briefly describing the LHC and CMS, the GE1/1 project and its detector are presented. Then a description of the VFAT and a detailed overview of the new features in the VFAT3 version are provided in order to define and develop a test bench of the chip in terms of firmware and software. Finally, a characterization of the VFAT3 is carried out in order to validate its design for the next detector prototype.