Construction and Performance of Large-Area Triple-GEM Prototypes for Future Upgrades of the CMS Forward Muon System

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and testing of large-area triple-GEM detectors aimed at upgrading the CMS muon system in the high-ta region, enhancing muon detection and trigger capabilities.

Contribution

It presents the design, construction, and testing of full-size triple-GEM prototypes for CMS, including innovative foil stretching techniques and performance results from beam tests.

Findings

Successful construction of 1x0.5 m2 GEM prototypes

Test beam results demonstrate high spatial resolution and rate capability

Preliminary simulations indicate improved muon reconstruction and triggering

Abstract

At present, part of the forward RPC muon system of the CMS detector at the CERN LHC remains uninstrumented in the high-\eta region. An international collaboration is investigating the possibility of covering the 1.6 < |\eta| < 2.4 region of the muon endcaps with large-area triple-GEM detectors. Given their good spatial resolution, high rate capability, and radiation hardness, these micro-pattern gas detectors are an appealing option for simultaneously enhancing muon tracking and triggering capabilities in a future upgrade of the CMS detector. A general overview of this feasibility study will be presented. The design and construction of small (10\times10 cm2) and full-size trapezoidal (1\times0.5 m2) triple-GEM prototypes will be described. During detector assembly, different techniques for stretching the GEM foils were tested. Results from measurements with x-rays and from test beam campaigns at the CERN SPS will be shown for the small and large prototypes. Preliminary simulation studies on the expected muon reconstruction and trigger performances of this proposed upgraded muon system will be reported.