12 research outputs found
Fast Timing for High-Rate Environments with Micromegas
The current state of the art in fast timing resolution for existing
experiments is of the order of 100 ps on the time of arrival of both charged
particles and electromagnetic showers. Current R&D on charged particle timing
is approaching the level of 10 ps but is not primarily directed at sustained
performance at high rates and under high radiation (as would be needed for
HL-LHC pileup mitigation). We demonstrate a Micromegas based solution to reach
this level of performance. The Micromegas acts as a photomultiplier coupled to
a Cerenkov-radiator front window, which produces sufficient UV photons to
convert the ~100 ps single-photoelectron jitter into a timing response of the
order of 10-20 ps per incident charged particle. A prototype has been built in
order to demonstrate this performance. The first laboratory tests with a
pico-second laser have shown a time resolution of the order of 27 ps for ~50
primary photoelectrons, using a bulk Micromegas readout.Comment: MPGD2015 (4th Conference on Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detectors, Trieste,
Italy, 12 - 15 October, 2015). 5 pages, 8 figure
Towards robust PICOSEC Micromegas precise timing detectors
The PICOSEC Micromegas (MM) detector is a precise timing gaseous detector
consisting of a Cherenkov radiator combined with a photocathode and a MM
amplifying structure. A 100-channel non-resistive PICOSEC MM prototype with
10x10 cm^2 active area equipped with a Cesium Iodide (CsI) photocathode
demonstrated a time resolution below 18 ps. The objective of this work is to
improve the PICOSEC MM detector robustness aspects; i.e. integration of
resistive MM and carbon-based photocathodes; while maintaining good time
resolution. The PICOSEC MM prototypes have been tested in laboratory conditions
and successfully characterised with 150 GeV/c muon beams at the CERN SPS H4
beam line. The excellent timing performance below 20 ps for an individual pad
obtained with the 10x10 cm^2 area resistive PICOSEC MM of 20 MOhm/sq showed no
significant time resolution degradation as a result of adding a resistive
layer. A single-pad prototype equipped with a 12 nm thick Boron Carbide (B4C)
photocathode presented a time resolution below 35 ps; opening up new
possibilities for detectors with robust photocathodes. The results made the
concept more suitable for the experiments in need of robust detectors with good
time resolution
A large area 100 channel Picosec Micromegas detector with sub 20 ps time resolution
The PICOSEC Micromegas precise timing detector is based on a Cherenkov
radiator coupled to a semi-transparent photocathode and a Micromegas
amplification structure. The first proof of concept single-channel small area
prototype was able to achieve time resolution below 25 ps. One of the crucial
aspects in the development of the precise timing gaseous detectors applicable
in high-energy physics experiments is a modular design that enables large area
coverage. The first 19-channel multi-pad prototype with an active area of
approximately 10 cm suffered from degraded timing resolution due to the
non-uniformity of the preamplification gap. A new 100 cm detector module
with 100 channels based on a rigid hybrid ceramic/FR4 Micromegas board for
improved drift gap uniformity was developed. Initial measurements with 80 GeV/c
muons showed improvements in timing response over measured pads and a time
resolution below 25 ps. More recent measurements with a new thinner drift gap
detector module and newly developed RF pulse amplifiers show that the
resolution can be enhanced to a level of 17~ps. This work will present the
development of the detector from structural simulations, design, and beam test
commissioning with a focus on the timing performance of a thinner drift gap
detector module in combination with new electronics using an automated timing
scan method
A New Beam Loss Monitor Concept Based on Fast Neutron Detection and Very Low Photon Sensitivity
International audienceSuperconductive accelerators may emit X-rays and Gammas mainly due to high electric fields applied on the superconductive cavity surfaces. Indeed, electron emissions will generate photons when electrons impinge on some material. Their energies depend on electron energies, which can be strongly increased by the cavity radio frequency power when it is phase-correlated with the electrons. Such photons present a real problem for Beam Loss Monitor (BLM) systems since no discrimination can be made between cavity contributions and beam loss contributions. Therefore, a new BLM is proposed which is based on gaseous Micromegas detectors, highly sensitive to fast neutrons, not to thermal ones and mostly insensitive to X-rays and Gammas. This detector uses Polyethylene for neutron moderation and the detection is achieved using a 10B or 10B4C converter film with a Micromegas gaseous amplification. Simulations show that detection efficiencies > 8 % are achievable for neutrons with energies between 1 eV and 10 MeV
Limits in point to point resolution of MOS based pixels detector arrays
International audienceIn high energy physics point-to-point resolution is a key prerequisite for particle detector pixel arrays. Current and future experiments require the development of inner-detectors able to resolve the tracks of particles down to the micron range. Present-day technologies, although not fully implemented in actual detectors, can reach a 5-μm limit, this limit being based on statistical measurements, with a pixel-pitch in the 10 μm range. This paper is devoted to the evaluation of the building blocks for use in pixel arrays enabling accurate tracking of charged particles. Basing us on simulations we will make here a quantitative evaluation of the physical and technological limits in pixel size. Attempts to design small pixels based on SOI technology will be briefly recalled here. A design based on CMOS compatible technologies that allow a reduction of the pixel size below the micrometer is introduced here. Its physical principle relies on a buried carrier-localizing collecting gate. The fabrication process needed by this pixel design can be based on existing process steps used in silicon microelectronics. The pixel characteristics will be discussed as well as the design of pixel arrays. The existing bottlenecks and how to overcome them will be discussed in the light of recent ion implantation and material characterization experiments
Large High-Efficiency Thermal Neutron Detectors Based on the Micromegas Technology
Due to the so-called He-3 shortage crisis, many detection techniques for thermal neutrons are currently based on alternative converters. There are several possible ways of increasing the detection efficiency for thermal neutrons using the solid neutron-to-charge converters B-10 or (B4C)-B-10. Here, we present an investigation of the Micromegas technology The micro-pattern gaseous detector Micromegas was developed in the past years at Saclay and is now used in a wide variety of neutron experiments due to its combination of high accuracy, high rate capability, excellent timing properties, and robustness. A large high-efficiency Micromegas-based neutron detector is proposed for thermal neutron detection, containing several layers of (B4C)-B-10 coatings that are mounted inside the gas volume. The principle and the fabrication of a single detector unit prototype with overall dimension of similar to 15 x 15 cm(2) and its possibility to modify the number of B-10 or (B4C)-B-10 neutron converter layers are described. We also report results from measurements that are verified by simulations, demonstrating that typically five (B4C)-B-10 layers of 1-2 mu m thickness would lead to a detection efficiency of 20% for thermal neutrons and a spatial resolution of sub-mm. The high potential of this novel technique is given by the design being easily adapted to large sizes by constructing a mosaic of several such detector units, resulting in a large area coverage and high detection efficiencies. An alternative way of achieving this is to use a multi-layered Micromegas that is equipped with two-side (B4C)-B-10-coated gas electron multiplier (GEM)-type meshes, resulting in a robust and large surface detector. Another innovative and very promising concept for cost-effective, high-efficiency, large-scale neutron detectors is by stacking (B4C)-B-10-coated microbulk Micromegas. A prototype was designed and built, and the tests so far look very encouraging.Funding Agencies|European Unions collaborative Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development, and demonstration under the NMI3-II Grant [283883]; European Union [654000]; EU H2020 Brightness Project [676548]</p
Fast Timing for High-Rate Environments with Micromegas
The current state of the art in fast timing resolution for existing experiments is of the order of 100 ps on the time of arrival of both charged particles and electromagnetic showers. Current R&D on charged particle timing is approaching the level of 10 ps but is not primarily directed at sustained performance at high rates and under high radiation (as would be needed for HL-LHC pileup mitigation). We demonstrate aMicromegas based solution to reach this level of performance. The Micromegas acts as a photomultiplier coupled to a Cerenkovradiator front window, which produces sufficient UV photons to convert the ∼100 ps single-photoelectron jitter into a timing response of the order of 10-20 ps per incident charged particle. A prototype has been built in order to demonstrate this performance. The first laboratory tests with a pico-second laser have shown a time resolution of the order of 27 ps for ∼50 primary photoelectrons, using a bulk Micromegas readout
Fast Timing for High-Rate Environments with Micromegas
The current state of the art in fast timing resolution for existing experiments is of the order of 100 ps on the time of arrival of both charged particles and electromagnetic showers. Current R&D on charged particle timing is approaching the level of 10 ps but is not primarily directed at sustained performance at high rates and under high radiation (as would be needed for HL-LHC pileup mitigation). We demonstrate aMicromegas based solution to reach this level of performance. The Micromegas acts as a photomultiplier coupled to a Cerenkovradiator front window, which produces sufficient UV photons to convert the ∼100 ps single-photoelectron jitter into a timing response of the order of 10-20 ps per incident charged particle. A prototype has been built in order to demonstrate this performance. The first laboratory tests with a pico-second laser have shown a time resolution of the order of 27 ps for ∼50 primary photoelectrons, using a bulk Micromegas readout
A Micromegas Based Neutron Detector for the ESS Beam Loss Monitoring
International audienceBeam loss monitors are of high importance in high-intensity hadron facilities where any energy loss can produce damage or/and activation of materials. A new type of neutron BLM have been developed for hadron accelerators aiming to cover the low energy part. In this region typical BLMs based on charged particle detection are not appropriate because the expected particle fields will be dominated by neutrons and photons. Moreover, the photon background due to the RF cavities can produce false beam loss signals. The BLM proposed is based on gaseous Micromegas detectors, designed to be sensitive to fast neutrons and insensitive to photons (X and gamma). In addition, the detectors will be insensitive to thermal neutrons, since part of them will not be directly correlated to beam loss location. The appropriate configuration of the Micromegas operating conditions will allow excellent timing, intrinsic photon background suppression and individual neutron counting, extending thus the dynamic range to very low particle fluxes. The concept of the detectors and the first results from tests in several facilities will be presented. Moreover, their use in the nBLM ESS system will be also discusse
Fast Timing for High-Rate Environments with Micromegas
The current state of the art in fast timing resolution for existing experiments is of the order of 100 ps on the time of arrival of both charged particles and electromagnetic showers. Current R&D on charged particle timing is approaching the level of 10 ps but is not primarily directed at sustained performance at high rates and under high radiation (as would be needed for HL-LHC pileup mitigation). We demonstrate aMicromegas based solution to reach this level of performance. The Micromegas acts as a photomultiplier coupled to a Cerenkovradiator front window, which produces sufficient UV photons to convert the ∼100 ps single-photoelectron jitter into a timing response of the order of 10-20 ps per incident charged particle. A prototype has been built in order to demonstrate this performance. The first laboratory tests with a pico-second laser have shown a time resolution of the order of 27 ps for ∼50 primary photoelectrons, using a bulk Micromegas readout