Abstract
Sporadic harmful discharges between the detector electrodes are inherent features of the operation of proportional counters in conditions of highly ionizing background, high gas gain, or high rate. Frequent energetic discharges can deteriorate the overall performance of the detector and cause permanent damage to the detector components. In addition, they can significantly reduce the counting rate capability of the device due to the prolonged recovery time of high-voltage power supplies.In this work, we describe the development of an Anti-Discharge Unit (ADU) implemented in a Parallel-Plate Avalanche Counter (PPAC) for heavy-ion tracking. The ADU is based on a High-Voltage (HV) MOSFET switch that shuts off the electric field between the detector electrodes within a few tens of nanoseconds when the output signal is above a fixed threshold, effectively preventing the development of streamer discharges. The avalanche field is restored within a few milliseconds so that the detector dead time is small, even in the case of moderately high spark rates. The ADU can operate effectively in conditions of high rates and highly ionizing backgrounds, in addition to enhancing the detection efficiency and extending the lifetime of the electrodes.
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