Overview of the ATLAS insertable B-layer project

The upgrades for the ATLAS Pixel Detector will be staged in preparation for high luminosity LHC. The first upgrade for the Pixel Detector will be the construction of a new pixel layer which will be installed during the first shutdown of the LHC machine, foreseen in 2013-14. The new detector, called the Insertable B-layer (IBL), will be installed between the existing Pixel Detector and a new smaller radius beam-pipe. The IBL will be located at an average radius of 3.3 cm. The IBL required specific developments to cope with increased radiation and pixel occupancy and also to improve the physics performance through reduction of the pixel size and a more stringent material budget. Two silicon sensor technologies have been pushed forward to fulfill the IBL requirements: thin planar sensors and 3D double side sensors, both with slim edge. An overview of the IBL project, of the module design and qualification with particular emphasis on irradiation tests will be presented.