In-beam tests of scintillating fibre detectors at MAMI and at GSI

TL;DR

This study evaluates scintillating fibre detectors' performance with electrons and heavy ions, demonstrating high time resolution and efficiency, suitable for advanced spectrometer applications at MAMI and GSI.

Contribution

The paper presents new measurements of timing, efficiency, and energy response of scintillating fibre detectors with various particles, advancing detector technology for nuclear physics experiments.

Findings

Achieved 1 ns time resolution for electrons

Obtained 310 ps time resolution for carbon ions

Measured hit position residual of 0.27 mm

Abstract

The performance of scintillating fibre detectors was studied with electrons at the spectrometer facility of the Mainz microtron MAMI, as well as in a C-12 beam of 2 AGeV energy and in a beam of different particle species at GSI. Multi-anode photomultipliers were used to read out one or more bundles of 128 fibres each in different geometries. For electrons a time resolution of FWHM = 1 ns was measured in a single detector plane with a detection efficiency epsilon > 99%. A time resolution of 310 ps (FWHM) between two planes of fibres was achieved for carbon ions, leading to a FWHM = 220 ps for a single detector. The hit position residual was measured with a width of FWHM = 0.27 mm. The variation in the measured energy deposition was Delta E/E= 15-20% (FWHM) for carbon ions. In addition, the energy response to p/pi/d particles was studied. Based on the good detector performance fibre hodoscopes will be constructed for the KAOS/A1 spectrometer at MAMI and for the HypHI experiment at GSI.