An imaging time-of-propagation system for charged particle identification at a super B factory

TL;DR

This paper proposes an Imaging Time-of-Propagation (iTOP) detector for super B factories, enabling precise charged particle identification, especially K/pi separation, under high background conditions through photon timing and imaging techniques.

Contribution

It introduces the iTOP detector concept, combining photon timing and imaging to improve particle identification in high-background environments at super B factories.

Findings

Simulated PID performance shows high separation efficiency.

Prototype testing validates simulation results.

Optimization of detector geometry enhances performance.

Abstract

Super B factories that will further probe the flavor sector of the Standard Model and physics beyond will demand excellent charged particle identification (PID), particularly K/pi separation, for momenta up to 4 GeV/c, as well as the ability to operate under beam backgrounds significantly higher than current B factory experiments. We describe an Imaging Time-of-Propagation (iTOP) detector which shows significant potential to meet these requirements. Photons emitted from charged particle interactions in a Cerenkov radiator bar are internally reflected to the end of the bar, where they are collected on a compact image plane using photodetectors with fine spatial segmentation in two dimensions. Precision measurements of photon arrival time are used to enhance the two dimensional imaging, allowing the system to provide excellent PID capabilities within a reduced detector envelope. Results of the ongoing optimization of the geometric and physical properties of such a detector are presented, as well as simulated PID performance. Validation of simulations is being performed using a prototype in a cosmic ray test stand at the University of Hawaii.