A multi-channel wire gas electron multiplier

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new simple method for producing electrodes in multi-channel wire gas multipliers, demonstrating high electron multiplication coefficients and improved discharge resistance compared to traditional GEM detectors.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel electrode production method for multi-channel wire gas multipliers and tests two configurations, MWGEM and MWCAT, showing enhanced performance and durability.

Findings

Electron multiplication coefficient up to 10,000 in neon-filled MWGEM and MWCAT.

Discharges do not destroy electrodes in MWGEM even above discharge threshold.

MWCAT operation tested with argon-based gas mixtures.

Abstract

A novel and relatively simple method of production of electrodes for a multi-channel wire gas multiplier is developed. Two modifications of the multipliers have been tested: with a multiplication of electrons between two wire electrodes, MWGEM, and between a wire electrode and continuous anode, MWCAT. For both MWGEM and MWCAT detectors, filled with neon under pressure of 760 Torr and irradiated by beta-particles (Ni-63), the coefficient of proportional multiplication of electrons up to 10000 was obtained. For the MWGEM detector irradiated by alpha-particles (Pu-239), the coefficient of proportional multiplication of 300 was obtained. It is observed, that in contrast to the GEM detectors, produced by perforation of a metal-clad plastic foil, in a MWGEM the discharges do not destroy its electrodes even for the potentials above the threshold of discharges. The results on operation of the MWCAT filled with Ar, Ar+CH4 and Ar+1% Xe are also presented.