Development of large size photon detectors based on THGEM and hybrid MPGD architectures

• Main Authors: Tessarotto, F., Dasgupta, S., Denisov, O., Duic, V., Finger, M., Fischer, H., Giorgi, M., Gobbo, B., Gregori, M., Herrmann, F., Alexeev, M., Konigsmann, K., Levorato, S., Maggiora, A., Martin, A., Menon, G., Novakova, K., Novy, J., Panzieri, D., Pereira, F. A., Santos, C. A., Birsa, R., Sbrizzai, G., Schiavon, P., Schopferer, S., Slunecka, M., Sozzi, F., Steiger, L., Sulc, M., Takekawa, S., Veloso, J. F. C. A., Bradamante, F., Bressan, A., Buchelel, M., Chiosso, M., Ciliberti, P., Dalla Torre, S.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cathodes; Detectors; Educational institutions; Partial discharges; Photonics; Prototypes; Wires
• ISSN: 1082-3654; 2577-0829
• DOI: 10.1109/NSSMIC.2013.6829464

Recent progress in the development of THGEM-based photon detectors confirm the validity of this novel technology. Detectors made of THGEMs, arranged in a three layer architecture, with a CsI coating on the first layer (acting as a reflective photocathode), have been produced and operated in laboratory and during test beam runs: they provide a gain of 105 and a time resolution better than 10 ns. Improvements in the production of THGEMs with 300×300 mm 2 active area have recently been introduced leading to a uniform gain response and performance similar to that provided by the small area THGEMs. Promising results have been obtained by combining THGEM and Micromegas technologies to form a hybrid MPGD-based photon detector: the first prototype has proved to stably operate at large gain in a variety of gas mixtures, including pure CH 4 and to provide a low ion backflow rate. The RICH-1 detector of the COMPASS Experiment at CERN SPS will be equipped with a set of MPGD-based photon detectors replacing MWPC-based ones.