Engineering tradeoffs in miniaturization of electronics for very large detectors

The author points out that very-large-scale detectors require a level of highly disciplined engineering if they are to be built within time and budgetary constraints, and that an excessive level of innovation in the design can be a hindrance rather than an advantage toward the chief end. He explores the issue of how to judge the level to which electronics technology should be introduced into a detector design. He examines the cost/benefit tradeoffs.