Speaker
Description
A combination Time Projection Chamber-Cherenkov prototype detector has been developed for consideration at a future Electron Ion Collider and was tested at the Fermilab test beam facility in April 2016. The purpose of the test was to provide a proof of principle, demonstrating that the detector is able to measure particle tracks and provide particle identification within a common volume. The TPC portion consists of a 10x10x10cm^3 field cage, which delivers charge from tracks to a 10x10cm^2 quadruple GEM readout. Tracks are reconstructed by interpolating the hit position of clusters on an array of 2x10mm^2 zigzag pads, which can significantly enhance charge sharing across the active area of the readout. The Cherenkov component consists of a 10x10cm^2 readout plane segmented into 3x3 square pads, also coupled to a quadruple GEM. As tracks pass though the drift volume of the TPC, the generated Cherenkov light is able to escape through sparsely arranged wires making up one side of the field cage, facing the CsI photocathode of the Cherenkov detector. The Cherenkov detector is thus operated in a windowless, proximity focussed configuration for high efficiency. Pure CF4 is used as the working gas for both detector components, mainly due to its transparency into the deep UV, as well as its high N0. Results from the beam test as well as the applicability for such a detector at a future Electron Ion Collider will be discussed.
