Spark probability measurement of a single mask triple GEM detector

TL;DR

This paper measures the spark probability of a single mask triple GEM detector under high particle rates to ensure stable operation in high-energy physics experiments.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of spark probability as a function of gain and particle rate for a single mask triple GEM detector.

Findings

Spark probability increases with gain and particle rate.

Stable operation is achievable at specific gain settings.

Experimental setup and spark identification method are detailed.

Abstract

Triple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors will be used as a tracking device in the first two stations of CBM MUon CHamber (MUCH), where the maximum particle rate is expected to reach ~1 MHz/cm2 for central Au-Au collisions at 8 AGeV. Therefore, the stable operation of the detector is very important. Discharge probability has been measured of a single mask triple GEM detector at the CERN SPS/H4 beam-line facility with a pion beam of ~150 GeV/c and also in an environment of highly ionizing shower particles. The spark probability as a function of gain has been studied for different particle rates. The details of the experimental setup, method of spark identification and results are presented in this paper.