Novel low resistivity glass: MRPC detectors for ultra high rate applications

Z Liu,R Beyer,J Dreyer,X Fan,R Greifenhagen,D.W Kim,R Kotte,A Laso Garcia,L Naumann,K Römer,D Stach,C Uribe Estrada,M.C.S Williams,A Zichichi

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2020.163483

Abstract

Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) are often used as time-of-flight (TOF) detectors for high-energy physics and nuclear experiments thanks to their excellent time accuracy. For the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) TOF system, MRPCs are required to work at particle fluxes on the order of 1–10kHz/cm2 for the outer region and 10–25kHz/cm2 for the central region. Better time resolution will allow particle identification with TOF techniques to be performed at higher momenta. From our previous studies, a time resolution of 25ps has been obtained with a 20-gap MRPC of 140μm gap size with enhanced rate capability. By using a new type of commercially available thin low-resistivity glass, further improvement MRPC rate capability is possible. In order to study the rate capability of the 10-gap MRPC built with this new low-resistivity glass, we have performed tests using the continuous electron beam at ELBE. This 10-gap MRPC, with 160μm gaps, reaches 97% efficiency at 19.2kV and a time resolution of 36ps at particle fluxes near 2kHz/cm2. At a flux of 100kHz/cm2, the efficiency is still above 95% and a time resolution of 50ps is obtained, which would fulfil the requirement of CBM TOF system.

Highlights

The excellent timing performance of Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) makes them widely used in high energy and nuclear physics experiments [1,2,3]
The dark current of the total active area of the 10 gas gap MRPC is below 40 nA when the high voltage is below 19.2 kV
Charged particles passing through an MRPC create gas avalanches

Summary

Introduction

The excellent timing performance of Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) makes them widely used in high energy and nuclear physics experiments [1,2,3]. The detectors for future experiments require higher rate capabilities as well as timing precision. For the Time of flight (TOF) system of CBM experiment, MRPCs will be required to work at particle fluxes on the order of 1–10 kHz/cm for the outer region and 10–25 kHz/cm for the central region [5]. Better time resolution under high flux will allow particle identification with TOF techniques to be performed at higher momenta. There is an urgent need for MRPCs which can work at a higher incident flux of particles and operate reliably with a time resolution approaching 20 ps for through-going particles

Methods

Results

Conclusion