First in-beam studies of a Resistive-Plate WELL gaseous multiplier

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the first in-beam performance of a Resistive-Plate WELL gaseous detector, showing high efficiency, stable operation, and discharge-free performance under intense particle flux, suitable for large-scale applications.

Contribution

It presents the first in-beam results of a medium-sized RPWELL detector, highlighting its stable, discharge-free operation and high detection efficiency at moderate gains.

Findings

Achieved 99% detection efficiency at a gain of a few times 10^4.

Operated reliably at fluxes up to 10^4 Hz/cm^2 with minimal efficiency loss.

Demonstrated discharge-free operation in intense pion beams.

Abstract

We present the results of the first in-beam studies of a medium size (10$\times$10 cm$^2$) Resistive-Plate WELL (RPWELL): a single-sided THGEM coupled to a pad anode through a resistive layer of high bulk resistivity ($\sim$10$^9 \Omega$cm). The 6.2~mm thick (excluding readout electronics) single-stage detector was studied with 150~GeV muons and pions. Signals were recorded from 1$\times$1 cm$^2$ square copper pads with APV25-SRS readout electronics. The single-element detector was operated in Ne\(5% $\mathrm{CH_{4}}$) at a gas gain of a few times 10$^4$, reaching 99$\%$ detection efficiency at average pad multiplicity of $\sim$1.2. Operation at particle fluxes up to $\sim$10$^4$ Hz/cm$^2$ resulted in $\sim$23$\%$ gain drop leading to $\sim$5$\%$ efficiency loss. The striking feature was the discharge-free operation, also in intense pion beams. These results pave the way towards robust, efficient large-scale detectors for applications requiring economic solutions at moderate spatial and energy resolutions.