Batch test of MRPC3b for CBM-TOF/STAR-eTOF

TL;DR

This paper reports on the batch testing of MRPC3b detectors for the STAR-eTOF upgrade, demonstrating excellent timing performance and identifying noise issues that were mitigated through design optimization.

Contribution

It introduces the batch testing process of MRPC3b detectors for STAR-eTOF and presents design improvements to reduce noise rates based on simulation and testing.

Findings

Time resolution better than 70 ps achieved

Efficiency around 95% obtained

Noise rates in edge strips significantly reduced after optimization

Abstract

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment is one of the major scientific spectrometers of the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Darmstadt. As one of the core sub-systems in CBM experiment for charged hadron identification, the Time-of-Flight (TOF) system is required to have a time resolution better than 80 ps. According to the final state particle flux distribution, the CBM-TOF will be constructed with several types of Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC). In the outer region of the TOF wall where the particle fluxes are around 1 kHz/cm2, MRPCs with ultra-thin float glass electrodes are considered as a cost effective solution. MRPC3b prototypes have been developed and tested with excellent performance which could meet all the requirements. Before the construction of CBM-TOF, approximately 80 MRPC3bs are assembled for the STAR endcap TOF (STAR-eTOF) upgrade at RHIC as part of the FAIR Phase-0 programs for CBM-TOF which provides a valuable opportunity for detector stability test under high flux environments. This paper will introduce the batch test of the MRPC3bs for STAR-eTOF upgrade. Time resolution of better than 70 ps and efficiency of around 95% are achieved. Notably, during the batch test, it has been observed that the noise rates of the two edge strips in each counter are significantly higher than those of the middle strips. Simulations with Computer Simulation Technology (CST)Studio Suite are carried out and several kinds of MRPC prototypes are designed and tested accordingly. Based on the simulation and test results, the design of the MRPC3b has been further optimized, resulting in a significant suppression of noise rates in the edge strips.