Development of the TIP-HOLE gas avalanche structure for nuclear physics/astrophysics applications with radioactive isotope beams: preliminary results

TL;DR

This paper introduces the TIP-HOLE gas amplifier, a novel micro-pattern gaseous detector with high-gain capabilities suitable for nuclear physics and astrophysics applications involving radioactive isotope beams, utilizing innovative manufacturing techniques.

Contribution

The paper presents the design, operational principles, and preliminary performance results of the TIP-HOLE gas amplifier, a new detector structure based on M-THGEM technology with needle-like anodes for high-gain operation.

Findings

Achieves stable high-gain operation at low voltages

Operates effectively in pure quencher gases at atmospheric pressure

Utilizes scalable additive manufacturing for large-area production

Abstract

We discuss the operational principle and performance of new micro-pattern gaseous detectors based on the multi-layer Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier (M-THGEM) concept coupled to a needle-like anode. The new gas avalanche structure aims at high-gain operation in nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics applications with radioactive isotope beams. It is thereafter named TIP-HOLE gas amplifier, and consists of a THGEM or a two-layers M-THGEM mounted in a WELL configuration. The avalanche electrodes are collected by thin conductive needles (with up to a few ten um radius and a height of 100 um), located at the center of the hole and acting as point-like anode. The bottom area of the needle may be surrounded by a cylindrical cathode strip in order to increase the electron collection efficiency. The electric field lines from the drift region above the M-THGEM are focused into the holes, and then forced to converge on the needle tip. An extremely high field is reached at the top of the needle, creating a point-like avalanche process. Stable, high-gain operations in a wide range of pressures may be achieved at relatively low operational voltage, even in pure quencher gas at atmospheric pressure (e.g. pure isobutene). The TIP-HOLE structure may be produced by the innovative scalable additive manufacturing technology for large-area, multiple-layer printed circuit boards, recently developed by the UHV technology company (USA) and discussed for the first time in this work.