Design and test results of a transition radiation detector for a Fermilab fixed target rare kaon decay experiment

Abstract

A transition radiation detector with large aperture (2.2 m width × 2.2 m height) has been designed and optimized to provide π e rejection of at least 120 : 1 in a rare kaon decay experiment (E799) at Fermilab. The momentum range of interest is between 2 and 25 GeV/ c. Beam test results with a small prototype wire chamber with different radiators and conventional gas mixtures are shown.