The CERES/NA45 Radial Drift Time Projection Chamber

TL;DR

This paper details the design, calibration, and performance evaluation of the first radial drift Time Projection Chamber (TPC) used at CERN, achieving high spatial and momentum resolution for particle detection.

Contribution

It introduces the first radial drift TPC, demonstrating its design, calibration process, and performance metrics in a high-energy physics experiment.

Findings

Achieved spatial resolution of 340 um azimuthally and 640 um radially.

Attained a momentum resolution of Dp/p = sqrt((1% * p)^2 + (2%)^2).

Successfully integrated the TPC into the CERES/NA45 experiment at CERN.

Abstract

The design, calibration, and performance of the first radial drift Time Projection Chamber (TPC) are presented. The TPC was built and installed at the CERES/NA45 experiment at the CERN SPS in the late nineties, with the objective to improve the momentum resolution of the spectrometer. The upgraded experiment took data twice, in 1999 and in 2000. After a detailed study of residual distortions a spatial resolution of 340 um in the azimuthal and 640 um in the radial direction was achieved, corresponding to a momentum resolution of Dp/p = sqrt{(1% * p/GeV)^2 + (2%)^2}.