Status and performance of the ALICE Silicon Drift Detector in pp and Pb-Pb collisions

This paper presents the status and performance of the SDD during the data taking of 2011/12. During this period the system was smoothly operated with very high operational efficiency. The hardware status of drift detectors, front-end electronics and readout boards will be described, focusing in particular on detector operation and on-line monitoring during the data taking period. The calibration strategy for what concerns the periodical measurement of the drift velocity using MOS charge injectors will also be discussed, since a precise knowledge of the drift velocity is crucial to reach high space resolution on the reconstructed hits with the SDD.