Beam studies of novel THGEM-based potential sampling elements for Digital Hadron Calorimetry

Abstract

Beam studies of thin single- and double-stage THGEM-based detectors are presented. Several 10 × 10 cm2 configurations with a total thickness of 5-6 mm (excluding readout electronics), with 1 × 1 cm 2 pads inductively coupled through a resistive layer to APV-SRS readout electronics, were investigated with muons and pions. Detection efficiencies in the 98% range were recorded with an average pad-multiplicity of ∼ 1.1. The resistive anode resulted in efficient discharge damping, with few-volt potential drops; discharge probabilities were ∼ 10-7 for muons and 10-6 for pions in the double-stage configuration, at rates of a few kHz/cm2. These results, together with the robustness of THGEM electrodes against spark damage and their suitability for economic production over large areas, make THGEM-based detectors highly competitive compared to the other technologies considered for the SiD-DHCAL. © CERN 2013.