Status of the Triple-GEM project for the upgrade of the CMS Muon System

The CMS GEM collaboration is performing a feasibility study to install triple-GEM detectors in the forward region of the muon system (1.6 < vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.4) of the CMS detector at the LHC. Such micro-pattern gas detectors are able to cope with the extreme particle rates that are expected in that region during the High Luminosity phase of the LHC. With their spatial resolution of order 100 micron GEMs would not only provide additional benefits in the CMS muon High Level Trigger, but also in the muon identification and track reconstruction, effectively combining tracking and triggering capabilities in one single device. The present status of the full project will be reviewed, highlighting all importants steps and achievements since the start of the R& D in 2009. Several small and full-size prototypes were constructed with different geometries and techniques. The baseline design of the triple-GEM detector for CMS will be described, along with the results from extensive test measurements of all prototypes both in the lab and in test beams at the CERN SPS. The proposed on-and off-detector electronics for the final system will be presented.