Performance of the BIS78 RPC detectors: a new concept of electronics and detector integration for high-rate and fast timing large size RPCs

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel integration of fast electronics with large RPC detectors, significantly improving high-rate and fast timing performance for the ATLAS detector upgrade at the LHC.

Contribution

It introduces a new detector-electronics integration concept using a Faraday cage and independent singlet chambers for enhanced performance in high-radiation environments.

Findings

Achieved a minimum threshold of 2 pC charge per count.

Demonstrated improved timing and spatial resolution.

Validated the performance of BIS78 triplet chambers.

Abstract

The reduction of the average charge per count in the gas along with the capability to discriminate very small signals from noise can allow an efficient and long-term Resistive Plate Chamber detector operation in high radiation background environment. This goal has been reached during the R&D program of the BIS78 upgrade project of the ATLAS detector at LHC through the deep integration of a fast (100 ps peaking time) and sensitive (as small as 100 `V threshold) Front- End electronics (FE) with a very large size detector structure. This innovative RPC integration concept pivots on a newly conceived faraday cage, embedding the readout strips and the FE, tightly wrapped around a 1 mm gas gap RPC with 1.2 mm thick electrodes, as a fully independent singlet structure. We studied the performance of BIS78 production triplet chambers, made of 3 independent singlets of 2 <2, each providing a 2D space and time information, showing a minimum threshold achievable of 2 pC of average charge per count produced inside the gas gap. We show that these chambers grant a record combined performance of better