No Arabic abstract
The prospect of pileup induced backgrounds at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in technology for charged particle timing at high rates. In contrast to the role of timing for particle identification, which has driven incremental improvements in timing, the LHC timing challenge dictates a specific level of timing performance- roughly 20-30 picoseconds. Since the elapsed time for an LHC bunch crossing (with standard design book parameters) has an rms spread of 170 picoseconds, the $sim50-100$ picosecond resolution now commonly achieved in TOF systems would be insufficient to resolve multiple in-time pileup. Here we present a MicroMegas based structure which achieves the required time precision (ie 24 picoseconds for 150 GeV $mu$s) and could potentially offer an inexpensive solution covering large areas with $sim 1$ cm$^2$ pixel size. We present here a proof-of-principle which motivates further work in our group toward realizing a practical design capable of long-term survival in a high rate experiment.
The PICOSEC detection concept consists in a two-stage Micromegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator and equipped with a photocathode. A proof of concept has already been tested: a single-photoelectron response of 76 ps has been measured with a femtosecond UV laser at CEA/IRAMIS, while a time resolution of 24 ps with a mean yield of 10.4 photoelectrons has been measured for 150 GeV muons at the CERN SPS H4 secondary line. This work will present the main results of this prototype and the performance of the different detector configurations tested in 2016-18 beam campaigns: readouts (bulk, resistive, multipad) and photocathodes (metallic+CsI, pure metallic, diamond). Finally, the prospects for building a demonstrator based on PICOSEC detection concept for future experiments will be discussed. In particular, the scaling strategies for a large area coverage with a multichannel readout plane, the R&D on solid converters for building a robust photocathode and the different resistive configurations for a robust readout.
The prospect of pileup induced backgrounds at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in developing technologies for charged particle detection with accurate timing at high rates. The required accuracy follows directly from the nominal interaction distribution within a bunch crossing ($sigma_zsim5$ cm, $sigma_tsim170$ ps). A time resolution of the order of 20-30 ps would lead to significant reduction of these backgrounds. With this goal, we present a new detection concept called PICOSEC, which is based on a two-stage Micromegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator and equipped with a photocathode. First results obtained with this new detector yield a time resolution of 24 ps for 150 GeV muons, and 76 ps for single photoelectrons.
The experimental requirements in near future accelerators (e.g. High Luminosity-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in development of detectors with high precision timing capabilities. With this as a goal, a new detection concept called PICOSEC, which is based to a two-stage MicroMegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator equipped with a photocathode has been developed. Results obtained with this new detector yield a time resolution of 24,ps for 150,GeV muons and 76,ps for single photoelectrons. In this paper we will report on the performance of the PICOSEC in test beams, as well as simulation studies and modelling of its timing characteristics.
We performed a new series of systematic studies of gain and rate characteristics of several micropattern gaseous detectors. Extending earlier studies, these measurements were done at various pressures, gas mixtures, at a wide range of primary charges and also when the whole area of the detectors was irradiated with a high intensity x-ray beam. Several new effects were discovered, common to all tested detectors, which define fundamental limits of operation. The results of these studies allow us to identify several concrete ways of improving the performance of micropattern detectors and to suggest that in some applications RPCs may constitute a valid alternative. Being protected from damaging discharges by the resistive electrodes, these detectors feature high gain, high rate capability (10^5 Hz/mm^2), good position resolution (better than 30 micrometer) and excellent timing (50 ps sigma).
In the context of the 2013 APS-DPF Snowmass summer study conducted by the U.S. HEP community, this white paper outlines a roadmap for further development of Micro-pattern Gas Detectors for tracking and muon detection in HEP experiments. We briefly discuss technical requirements and summarize current capabilities of these detectors with a focus of operation in experiments at the energy frontier in the medium-term to long-term future. Some key directions for future R&D on Micro-pattern Gas Detectors in the U.S. are suggested.