Carbon fiber grounding in the D0 Run IIb silicon detector design

Carbon fiber support structures have become common elements of silicon detector designs. While the use of carbon fiber solves a variety of mechanical problems, it presents a challenging set of electrical concerns. Well-designed coupling and grounding schemes are essential for producing low-noise environments within the detectors. General principles involved in grounding systems with carbon fiber structures are described, as well as specific applications to the D0 Run IIb silicon detector.