Radiation hard avalanche photodiodes for the CMS detector

The avalanche photodiodes, developed by Hamamatsu Photonics in collaboration with CMS, which are to be used to read out the lead tungstate crystals in the barrel part of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter, are described. The procedures taken to ensure their long-term reliability in the radiation environment expected in CMS are outlined, as well as the studies made to verify the very high reliability required.