Progress in Developing Hybrid RPCs: GEM-like Detectors with Resistive Electrodes

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in developing hybrid RPCs with GEM-like structures featuring resistive electrodes, enabling large-area, spark-protected detectors suitable for various applications.

Contribution

Introduction of a new hybrid detector design combining GEM-like and RPC features with resistive electrodes, enabling large-area manufacturing via screen printing.

Findings

Successful development of resistive-electrode GEM-like detectors

Ability to operate in cascaded mode and in poorly quenched gases

Potential for large-area detectors using screen printing technology

Abstract

We have recently developed an innovative detector of photons and charged particles: a GEM-like gaseous amplification structure with resistive electrodes instead of commonly used metallic ones. This novel detector combines the best property of GEMs- the capability to operate in a cascaded mode and in poorly quenched gases - and of RPC: the protection against sparks. In this paper will shortly review our latest achievements in this direction, however the main focus will be given on a new advanced design that allows to build large area detectors manufactured by a screen printing technology. The proposed detector, depending on the applications, can operate either in a GEM mode (electron multiplications through holes only) or as a hybrid RPC with simultaneous amplifications in the drift region and in the holes. The possible applications of this new detector will be discussed.