Laser calibration system for the CERES Time Projection Chamber

TL;DR

This paper presents a laser calibration system for the CERES TPC that simulates particle tracks to calibrate electronics, measure drift velocity, and monitor detector properties, enhancing accuracy and stability.

Contribution

The paper introduces a laser-based calibration system specifically designed for the CERES TPC, enabling precise calibration and monitoring of detector parameters.

Findings

Successful simulation of charged particle tracks using Nd:YAG laser

Effective calibration of readout electronics and electron drift velocity

Long-term monitoring of gas drift properties achieved

Abstract

A Nd:YAG laser was used to simulate charged particle tracks at known positions in the CERES Time Projection Chamber at the CERN SPS. The system was primarily developed to study the response of the readout electronics and to calibrate the electron drift velocity. Further applications were the determination of the gating grid transparency, the chamber position calibration, and long-term monitoring of drift properties of the gas in the detector.