On some factors affecting discharge conditions in micro-strip gas chambers

Mar, 1995
5 pages
Published in:
  • Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A 365 (1995) 65-69,
  • Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A 365 (1995) 65-69
  • Published: Mar 7, 2000
DOI:
Report number:
  • CERN-PPE-95-036,
  • CERN-PPE-95-36

Citations per year

19962001200620112014012345
Abstract: (Elsevier B.V.)
We describe the results of an investigation on the influence of geometricla parameters on the maximum gain that can be attained in a micro-strip gas chamber. Single electron emission from the cathode was confirmed to be a precursor of discharge, particularly for gas mixtures with a high fraction of quencher, confirming our previous observations. In contradiction however with the results of a theoretical model proposed in earlier work, we found that the maximum gain is obtained in a narrow range of cathode strip width. This suggests the presence of other mechanisms initiating a discharge, such as photon- or ion-initiated feedback. The influence of strongly ionising irradiation on discharge conditions has also been investigated; we have observed an increasing probability of discharge in detectors irradiated with α particles, releasing around 1 MeV in the gas, as compared to 6 keV X-rays. This results in a reduction by a factor of 2 of the maximum gain at which a MSGC can be safely operated, a concern for the use of micro-strip chambers in vertex detectors for colliders where low energy, heavily ionizing particles and thermal neutrons are produced together with minimum ionizing particles.
  • proportional chamber: gas
  • electrode: microstrip
  • charge: readout
  • numerical calculations