Measurements of the energy of relativistic high energy charged particles by a novel superconducting transition radiation detector

Abstract

In want of a detector capable of measuring accurately the energy of relativistic high energy charged particles, a novel transition radiation detector (TRD) utilizing superheated superconducting microspheres of tin of 22–26, 27–32 and 32–38 μm in diameter respectively has been constructed. For the purpose of enhancing the TR effect, the TRD is operated at ∼100 mK. A test has been conducted in a high energy electron beam facility at the CERN PS in the energy range of 1–10 GeV showing an energy dependence of the TR X-ray photon produced and hence the value γ= E/ mc 2 of the charged particle, thus proving that the TRD is suitable for measuring the energy at least up to 10 GeV.