Response of microchannel plates to single particles and to electromagnetic showers

TL;DR

This study investigates the response of microchannel plates (MCPs) to single particles and electromagnetic showers, highlighting their potential for high-resolution timing in particle detection at colliders.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on MCP performance with cosmic rays and electron beams, modeling their response to high-energy showers for the first time.

Findings

MCPs achieve sub-nanosecond time resolution.

Detection efficiency varies with particle multiplicity.

Modeling shows MCPs can effectively detect electromagnetic showers.

Abstract

We report on the response of microchannel plates (MCPs) to single relativistic particles and to electromagnetic showers. Particle detection by means of secondary emission of electrons at the MCP surface has long been proposed and is used extensively in ion time-of-flight mass spectrometers. What has not been investigated in depth is their use to detect the ionizing component of showers. The time resolution of MCPs exceeds anything that has been previously used in calorimeters and, if exploited effectively, could aid in the event reconstruction at high luminosity colliders. Several prototypes of photodetectors with the amplification stage based on MCPs were exposed to cosmic rays and to 491 MeV electrons at the INFN-LNF Beam-Test Facility. The time resolution and the efficiency of the MCPs are measured as a function of the particle multiplicity, and the results used to model the response to high-energy showers.