Current Challenges and Perspectives in Resistive Gaseous Detectors: a manifesto from RPC 2012.

Abstract

Resistive gaseous detectors can be broadly defined as those operated in conditions where virtually no field lines exist that connect any two metallic electrodes sitting at different potential. This condition can be operationally recognized as 'no gas gap being delimited by two metallic electrodes' [1]. Since early 70's, Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) are the most successful implementation of this idea, that leads to fully spark-protected gaseous detectors, with solid state –like reliability at working fields beyond 100kV/cm, yet enjoying the general characteristics of gaseous detectors in terms of flexibility, optimization and customization. We present a summary of the status of the field of resistive gaseous detectors as discussed in a dedicated closing session that took place during the XI Workshop for Resistive Plate Chambers and Related Detectors celebrated in Frascati, and especially we review the perspectives and ambitions towards the XII Workshop to be celebrated in Beijing in year 2014. Due to the existence of two specific reviews ([1,2]) also at this workshop, a minimum amount of overlap was found to be unavoidable. We have realized, however, that the three works provide a look at the field from different optics, so they can be largely considered to be complementary. Contrary to the initial concerns, the overall appearance seems to be fairly round, in our opinion. Disclaimer: authors have tried being as faithful as possible to the original comments, as well as providing a proper 'wrapping up' for the less educated reader. The session was recorded and it might be made available from the organizers, so that the expert reader can judge on his own. XI workshop on Resistive Plate Chambers and Related Detectors (RPC2012) INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Italy February 5-10, 2012 1 Text based on discussions between attendants to the workshop and a panel formed by S. Bianco, P. Dupieux, P. Fonte, G. Iaselli, A. Musso, S. K. Park, R. Santonico, V. Peskov.  Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence. http://pos.sissa.it P o S ( R P C 2 0 1 2 ) 0 8 4