ROPPERI - A TPC readout with GEMs, pads and Timepix

TL;DR

This paper introduces ROPPERI, a hybrid TPC readout combining GEMs, pads, and Timepix to achieve high granularity for improved particle detection and dE/dx measurements, supported by simulation and prototype development.

Contribution

It presents a novel hybrid readout design for TPCs integrating GEMs, pads, and pixel chips, with initial prototype and simulation results demonstrating its potential.

Findings

High granularity enables electron cluster identification.

Simulation results show promising performance for dE/dx measurements.

Prototype development is underway for proof-of-principle validation.

Abstract

The concept of a hybrid readout of a time projection chamber is presented. It combines a GEM-based amplification and a pad-based anode plane with a pixel chip as readout electronics. This way, a high granularity enabling to identify electron clusters from the primary ionisation is achieved as well as flexibility and large anode coverage. The benefits of this high granularity, in particular for dE/dx measurements, are outlined and results of a simulation-based performance study are given. The structure of the first prototype board is discussed, including adaptions based on a very preliminary first measurement for a second production towards a proof-of-principle.