Effect of variations in the gas mixture compositions on the timing and charge of glass RPC

TL;DR

This study investigates how small variations in gas mixture compositions affect the timing and charge response of glass Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs), which are crucial for the performance of large neutrino detectors like INO's ICAL.

Contribution

It provides experimental analysis of the impact of different gas mixture ratios on RPC charge distribution and timing resolution, optimizing performance for neutrino detection.

Findings

Gas mixture variations significantly influence RPC charge distribution.

Optimal gas compositions improve timing resolution.

Performance metrics vary with different $iC_4H_{10}$ and $SF_6$ percentages.

Abstract

The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is a project aimed at building a large underground laboratory to explore the Earth's mater effects on the atmospheric neutrinos in multi-GeV range. INO will host a 50 kton magnetized iron calorimeter detector (ICAL) in which Resistive Plate Chambers(RPCs) will be the active detector elements. In ICAL, 28,800 glass RPCs of 2 m $\times$ 2 m size will be operated in the avalanche mode. A small variation in the compositions of ionizing gaseous medium in the RPC affects its performance. Study of the charge distribution of the RPC at different gas compositions is necessary to optimize the gas mixture. An RPC made with glass plates of dimension 30 cm $\times$ 30 cm was operated in avalanche mode with a gas mixture of $C_2H_2F_4$/$iC_4H_{10}$/$SF_6$. We have studied the performance of these RPCs at the same ambient conditions. The percentages of the $iC_4H_{10}$ or $SF_6$ were varied and its effect on the performance of RPC were studied. The study of the charge distribution and time resolution of the RPC signals at different gas compositions is presented in this paper.