Optical readout in a multi-module system test for the ATLAS pixel detector

The innermost part of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, CERN, will be a pixel detector, which is presently under construction. The command messages and the readout data of the detector are transmitted over an optical data path. The readout chain consists of many components which are produced at several locations around the world, and must work together in the pixel detector. To verify that these parts are working together as expected a system test has been built up. It consists of detector modules, optoboards, optical fibres, Back of Crate cards, Readout Drivers, and control computers. s paper, the system test setup and the operation of the readout chain are described. Also, some results of tests using the final pixel detector readout chain are given.