The R&D program for silicon detectors in CMS

This paper describes the main achievements in the development of radiation resistant silicon detectors to be used in the CMS tracker. After a general description of the basic requirements for the operation of large semiconduc tor systems in the LHC environment, the issue of radiation resistance is di scussed in detail. Advantages and disadvantages of the different technologi cal options are presented for comparison. Laboratory measurements and test beam data are used to check the performance of several series of prototypes fabricated by different companies. The expected performance of the final d etector modules are presented together with preliminary test beam results o n system prototypes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.