Characteristics of a matrix proportional counter with circular anodes

TL;DR

This paper presents the design, construction, and characterization of a matrix proportional counter with circular anodes, demonstrating its potential for customizable recording surfaces and analyzing its electrical and resolution properties.

Contribution

It introduces a new multicell matrix proportional counter with circular anodes and explores its operational characteristics and potential for arbitrary surface fabrication.

Findings

Gas multiplication depends on neighboring cell potentials.

Achieved 26% energy resolution at 7.5 keV photons.

Demonstrated the counter's capability for customizable recording surfaces.

Abstract

The construction of a butt-end multicell matrix proportional counter (MMPC) is presented in the work. Each cell is a butt-end proportional counter with a 5 mm cathode diameter and 0.8 mm circular anode diameter. In the example of the $3\times3$ matrix, it is shown that the gas multiplication of the central cell depends on the potentials at the anodes of the peripheral cells, the drift electrode, the forming rings, and the surrounding metal parts of the structure. The amplitude characteristics were measured when the MMPC was filled with mixtures of 96.3\% Ar + 3.7\% Xe and 90\% Ar + 10\% CH$_4$ at pressures of 620 Torr and 62 Torr. The calibration was carried out with $\alpha$-particles and $\gamma$-quanta from a $^{238}$Pu source. For photons with energies of 7.5 keV, a resolution of 26\% was obtained. It is shown that, based on MMPC, it is possible to fabricate recording surfaces of arbitrary configuration.