The GigaFitter for fast track fitting based on FPGA DSP arrays

The silicon-vertex-trigger (SVT) at CDF is made of two pipelined processors: the associative-memory, AM, finding low precision tracks (roads) and the track-fitter, TF, refining the track quality with high-precision fits. We describe a next generation track fitter, the GigaFitter, that performs more than a fit per nanosecond. This device is based on modern FPGA technology, rich of powerful DSP arrays, to reduce the track parameter reconstruction to few clock cycles and to perform many fits in parallel. The reduction to virtually zero of the time necessary for the fit is the goal to be achieved in order to maximize the computing power for high resolution tracking at very high rate. The GigaFitter will enhance the SVT capabilities during the high luminosity CDF final data taking and could be used in future experiments as well.