R&D on high momentum particle identification with a pressurized Cherenkov radiator

Agocs, A. G.; Barile, F.; Barnafoeldi, G. G.; Bellwied, R.; Bencedi, G.; Bencze, G.; Berenyi, D.; Boldizsar, L.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Chinellato, D. D.; Cindolo, F.; Cossyleon, K.; Das, D.; Das, K.; Das Bose, L.; De Cataldo, G.; DI BARI, Domenico; Di Mauro, A.; Futo, E.; Garcia Solis, E.; Hamar, G.; Horton, A.; Jayarathna, S. P.; Jimenez, R. T.; Kim, D. W.; Kim, J. S.; Knospe, A.; Levai, P.; Markert, C.; Martinengo, P.; Molnar, L.; Nappi, E.; Olah, L.; Paic, G.; Pastore, C.; Patino, M. E.; Peskov, V.; Pinsky, L.; Piuz, F.; Piyarathna, D. B.; Pochybova, S.; Sgura, I.; Sinha, T.; Song, J.; Timmins, A.; Van Beelen, J. B.; Varga, D.; Volpe, Giacomo; Weber, M.; Xaplanteris, L.; Yi, J.; Yoo, I. K.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2014.04.019

We report on the R&D results for a Very High Momentum Particle Identification (VHMPID) detector, which was proposed to extend the charged hadron track-by-track identification in the momentum range from 5 to 25 GeV/c in the ALICE experiment at CERN. It is a RICH detector with focusing geometry using pressurized perfluorobutane (C4F80) as a Cherenkov radiator. A MWPC with a Cs1 photocathode was investigated as the baseline option for the photon detector. The results of beam tests performed on RICH prototypes using both liquid C6E14 radiator (in proximity focusing geometry for reference measurements) and pressurized C4F8O gaseous radiator will be shown in this paper. In addition, we present studies of a Csl based gaseous photon detector equipped with a MWPC having an adjustable anodecathode gap, aiming at the optimization of the chamber layout and performance in the detection of single photoelectrons. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.