Performance of a Triple-GEM Demonstrator in $pp$ Collisions at the CMS Detector

TL;DR

This paper reports on the performance evaluation of triple-GEM detectors installed in the CMS muon endcaps during 2018 proton-proton collisions, assessing their efficiency, cluster size, and background rates in situ.

Contribution

It provides the first in situ performance data of triple-GEM detectors in CMS during LHC operations, informing future upgrades.

Findings

High muon reconstruction efficiency demonstrated.

Cluster size and background rates characterized.

Operational experience gained for future detector upgrades.

Abstract

After the Phase-2 high-luminosity upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the collision rate and therefore the background rate will significantly increase, particularly in the high $\eta$ region. To improve both the tracking and triggering of muons, the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Collaboration plans to install triple-layer Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors in the CMS muon endcaps. Demonstrator GEM detectors were installed in CMS during 2017 to gain operational experience and perform a preliminary investigation of detector performance. We present the results of triple-GEM detector performance studies performed in situ during normal CMS and LHC operations in 2018. The distribution of cluster size and the efficiency to reconstruct high $p_T$ muons in proton--proton collisions are presented as well as the measurement of the environmental background rate to produce hits in the GEM detector.