The development and study of high-position resolution (50 μm) RPCs for imaging X-rays and UV photons

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2003-11, Vol.513 (1), p.244-249
• Main Authors: Iacobaeus, C, Fonte, P, Francke, T, Ostling, J, Peskov, V, Rantanen, J, Rodionov, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: RPC; UV detection; X-ray imaging
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2003.08.040

Nowadays, commonly used Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) have counting rate capabilities of ∼10 4 Hz/cm 2 and position resolutions of ∼1 cm. We have developed small prototypes of RPCs (5×5 and 10×10 cm 2) having rate capabilities of up to 10 7 Hz/cm 2 and position resolutions of 50 μm (“on line” without application of any treatment method like “center of gravity”). The breakthrough in achieving extraordinary rate and position resolutions was only possible after solving several serious problems: RPC's cleaning and assembling technology, aging, spurious pulses and afterpulses, discharges in the amplification gap and along the spacers. High-rate, high-position resolution RPCs can find a wide range of applications in many different fields, for example in medical imaging. RPCs with the cathodes coated by an CsI photosensitive layer can detect ultraviolet photons with a position resolution that is better than ∼30 μm. Such detectors can also be used in many applications, for example in focal planes of high resolution vacuum spectrographs or as image scanners.