Design and validation of the EASY power supply system for hostile HL-LHC environments

Abstract The High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) will impose unprecedented constraints on detector power systems, requiring high efficiency, high channel density, and long-term reliability in harsh radiation and magnetic field environments. This paper presents the EASY power supply platform, a new generation of radiation-tolerant systems developed to meet these challenges. EASY integrates distributed power conversion in hostile and very hostile areas, supports safe operation over the extended HL-LHC lifetime, and enables efficient power delivery to next-generation detector front-end electronics. Over a five-year R&D program, CAEN carried out extensive qualification of components, sub-assemblies, and complete boards in mixed and single-particle radiation fields, as well as in static magnetic fields up to 0.6 T. We report on the performance of the EASY 5000 and EASY 6000 families, including high-density HV and LV modules, liquid-cooled high-power units, and serial-powering solutions; together with a new branch controller, the R6060, which significantly improves communication speed and stability with the Detector Control System. The results demonstrate robust operation, enhanced radiation tolerance, and high power density, establishing the EASY platform as a key enabling technology for HL-LHC experiments.