This contribution describes the PICOSEC-Micromegas detector which achieves a time resolution below 25ps. In this device the passage of a charged particle produces Cherenkov photons in a radiator, ...which then generate electrons in a photocathode and these photoelectrons enter a two-stage Micromegas with a reduced drift region and a typical anode region. The results from single-channel prototypes (demonstrating a time resolution of 24ps for minimum ionizing particles, and 76ps for single photoelectrons), the understanding of the detector in terms of detailed simulations and a phenomenological model, the issues of robustness and how they are tackled, and preliminary results from a multi-channel prototype are presented (demonstrating that a timing resolution similar to that of the single-channel device is feasible for all points across the area covered by a multi-channel device).
The prospect of pileup induced backgrounds at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) has stimulated intense interest in developing technologies for charged particle detection with accurate timing at high ...rates. The required accuracy follows directly from the nominal interaction distribution within a bunch crossing (σz∼5cm, σt∼170ps). A time resolution of the order of 20–30 ps would lead to significant reduction of these backgrounds. With this goal, we present a new detection concept called PICOSEC, which is based on a “two-stage” Micromegas detector coupled to a Cherenkov radiator and equipped with a photocathode. First results obtained with this new detector yield a time resolution of 24 ps for 150 GeV muons, and 76 ps for single photoelectrons.
The Astroneu array consists of three autonomous Extensive Air Shower (EAS) detection stations installed and operated at the Hellenic Open University campus. Each station (Astroneu station) combines ...two different detection technologies. Three charged particle detectors arranged in a triangle and an RF antenna in the middle. Before installation several calibration procedures were performed both to the individual detectors of the array as well as to each integrated Astroneu station. In this paper we present the development of simulation methods, data analysis techniques and experimental procedures, which have been used to calibrate and optimize the operating parameters of the Astroneu particle detectors, to process the experimental signals and extract timing and amplitude information, to correct for systematic biases and estimate precisely the particle-front arrival time on each individual detector resulting to accurate reconstruction of the detected EAS direction. Furthermore, the performance of the Astroneu telescope in detecting and reconstructing EAS is demonstrated with special inter-calibration runs, where pairs of stations are detecting simultaneously the same air shower, as well as with comparisons against the predictions of a detailed simulation description of the detectors.
The HOU Reconstruction & Simulation (HOURS) software package has been developed in order to study in detail the response of very large (km
3-scale) underwater neutrino telescopes. HOURS comprises a ...realistic simulation package of the detector response, including an accurate description of all the relevant physical processes, the production of signal and background as well as several analysis strategies for triggering and pattern recognition, event reconstruction, tracking and energy estimation. Furthermore, this package provides the tools for simulating calibration techniques as well as other studies to estimate the detector sensitivity to several neutrino sources. In this work we report on the structure and performance of the HOURS package.
The PICOSEC-Micromegas detector was developed for precise timing of the arrival of charged particles with a resolution bellow 30 ps. This contribution, after a brief introduction presents results ...concerning the PICOSEC-Micromegas response to single photoelectrons, estimation of the photoelectron yield of various photocathode types, as well as its performance to time the arrival of test beam muons. In addition, results based on detailed simulation studies and a stochastic model developed for the understanding of the detector are presented. Finally, results of studies related to the development of large scale PICOSEC-Micromegas detector for practical applications are also presented, in particular, the timing performance of a multi-channel PICOSEC prototype.
NESTOR: a deep-sea neutrino telescope Tzamarias, S.E.
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
04/2003, Volume:
502, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
NESTOR is a deep-sea water Cherenkov neutrino detector now under construction for deployment in the Mediterranean sea, at a depth of 4000m,14km off the South West coast of Greece. This site provides ...excellent water transparency, shielding against the atmospheric muons, proximity to the shore, flat and wide sea bottom and stable geological and other environmental characteristics. The present status of the experiment and the future program are described.
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