Development of a TPC for an ILC Detector

Abstract

The ILD concept, one of two proposed detector concepts for the planned International Linear Collider (ILC), foresees a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) as the main tracking detector. The LCTPC (Linear Collider TPC) collaboration pursues R&D to develop such a TPC based on the best state-of-the-art technology. After tests with smaller prototypes, the current efforts focus on studies using a large prototype with a diameter of 770 mm and a length of 610 mm. This prototype can accommodate seven read-out modules of a size comparable to the onesthatwouldbeusedinthe finalTPC.Several prototypesof modulesusing MicromegasorGEM structuresasgas amplification were constructedand tested. Besidesthe traditionalpad read-out,apixel read-out basedontheTimePix chipis studiedinthese testswithupto8TimePixchipsona board.The current statusand futureplansoftheR&Dare presented.