# Novel Resistive-Plate WELL sampling element for (S)DHCAL

## TL;DR

This paper introduces the Resistive Plate WELL (RPWELL), a novel, robust sampling element for (S)DHCAL detectors, demonstrating promising preliminary test-beam results with high-energy muons and pions.

## Contribution

The paper presents the design, implementation, and initial testing of the RPWELL detector as a new sampling element for (S)DHCAL, showing potential advantages over RPC-based techniques.

## Key findings

- Successful test-beam results with 150 GeV muons and pions.
- Effective integration within a small (S)DHCAL prototype.
- Potential for improved performance in future collider detectors.

## Abstract

Digital and Semi-Digital Hadronic Calorimeters (S)DHCAL were suggested for future Colliders as part of the particle-flow concept. Though studied mostly with RPC-based techniques, investigations have shown that MPGD-based sampling elements could outperform. An attractive, industry-produced, robust, particle-tracking detector for large-area coverage, e.g. in (S)DHCAL, could be the novel single-stage Resistive Plate WELL (RPWELL). It is a single-sided THGEM coupled to the segmented readout electrode through a sheet of large bulk resistivity. We summarize here the preliminary test-beam results obtained with 6.5 mm thick (incl. electronics) {$48 \times 48\,\mathrm{cm^2}$}~RPWELL detectors. Two configurations are considered: a standalone RPWELL detector studied with 150 GeV muons and high-rate pions beams and RPWELL sampling element investigated within a small-(S)DHCAL prototype consisting of 7 resistive MICROMEGAS sampling elements followed by 5 RPWELL ones. The sampling elements were equipped with a Semi-Digital readout electronics based on the MICROROC chip.