Test-Beam and Simulation Studies Towards RPWELL-based DHCAL

TL;DR

This study evaluates the performance of a small-scale RPWELL-based digital hadronic calorimeter prototype through test-beam experiments and GEANT4 simulations, demonstrating competitive energy resolution for future collider applications.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental validation and simulation of RPWELL-based DHCAL, highlighting its potential advantages over traditional RPC-based systems.

Findings

RPWELL-based DHCAL achieves competitive pion energy resolution.

Experimental data validates GEANT4 simulation framework.

RPWELL technology offers environmental benefits and similar efficiency.

Abstract

Digital Hadronic Calorimeters (DHCAL) were suggested for future Colliders as part of the particle-flow concept. Though studied mainly with Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC), studies focusing on Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD)-based sampling elements have shown the potential advantages; they can be operated with environmental friendly gases and reach similar detection efficiency at lower average pad-multiplicity. We summarize here the experimental test-beam results of a small-size DHCAL prototype, incorporating six Micromegas (MM) and two Resistive-Plate WELL (RPWELL) sampling elements, interlaced with steel-absorber plates. It was investigated with 2-6 GeV pion beam at the CERN/PS beam facility. The data permitted validating a GEANT4 simulation framework of a DHCAL, and evaluating the expected pion energy resolution of a full-scale RPWELL-based calorimeter. The pion energy resolution of $\frac{\sigma}{E[GeV]}=\frac{50.8\%}{\sqrt{E[GeV]}} \oplus 10.3\%$ derived expected with the RPWELL concept is competitive to that of glass RPC and MM sampling techniques.