[Paper Review] An improved design of spark-protected microstrip gas counters (R-MSGC)

R. De Oliveira, V. Peskov+2 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jul 27, 2011

Particle Detector Development and Performance5 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper presents an improved design of resistive microstrip gas counters (R-MSGC) using standard printed circuit boards with resistive cathode strips, 10-micron metallic anode strips, and edge-protecting Coverlay layers to prevent surface discharges. The design achieves gas gains comparable to high-performance glass-based microstrip gas counters, positioning it as a viable, low-cost alternative to other micropattern detectors like MICROMEGAS.

ABSTRACT

We have developed microstrip gas counters manufactured on standard printed circuit board and having the following features: resistive cathode strips, thin (10 micron) metallic anode strips and electrodes protected against surface discharges by a Coverlay layer at their edges. These features allow the detector to operate at gas gains as high as can be achieve with the best microstrip gas counters manufactured on glass substrates. We believe that after further developments this type of detectors can compete in some applications with other micropattern detectors, for example MICROMEGAS.

Motivation & Objective

• To develop a low-cost, scalable microstrip gas counter using standard printed circuit board technology.
• To enhance spark protection in microstrip gas counters by introducing a Coverlay layer at electrode edges.
• To achieve high gas gains comparable to state-of-the-art glass-based microstrip gas counters using a cost-effective fabrication approach.
• To evaluate the feasibility of R-MSGC as a competitive alternative to other micropattern detectors such as MICROMEGAS.
• To enable stable operation at high gas gains through resistive cathode strips and edge insulation.

Proposed method

• Fabrication of microstrip gas counters on standard printed circuit boards (PCBs) with resistive cathode strips.
• Use of thin (10 µm) metallic anode strips to maintain high spatial resolution and signal efficiency.
• Application of a Coverlay layer at the edges of electrodes to suppress surface discharges and prevent sparking.
• Integration of resistive cathode strips to limit discharge current and enhance detector stability.
• Operation of the detector in gas gain regimes comparable to those of high-performance glass-based microstrip gas counters.
• Evaluation of detector performance at high gas gains under controlled gas and voltage conditions.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can a microstrip gas counter fabricated on standard PCBs achieve gas gains comparable to those of high-performance glass-based detectors?
• RQ2 How effective is the Coverlay layer in suppressing surface discharges and preventing sparking at high gas gains?
• RQ3 To what extent does the use of resistive cathode strips improve detector stability and scalability?
• RQ4 Can this design compete with other micropattern detectors like MICROMEGAS in terms of performance and cost?
• RQ5 What is the maximum achievable gas gain in a PCB-based R-MSGC with edge protection and resistive cathodes?

Key findings

• The R-MSGC design achieves gas gains comparable to the best microstrip gas counters fabricated on glass substrates.
• The Coverlay layer effectively suppresses surface discharges, enabling stable operation at high gas gains.
• Resistive cathode strips significantly reduce discharge current, enhancing detector robustness and longevity.
• The use of standard PCB technology enables low-cost, scalable, and reproducible fabrication of high-performance detectors.
• The detector demonstrates stable operation at high gas gains, indicating potential for use in applications requiring high-rate detection.
• The design shows strong potential to compete with other micropattern detectors such as MICROMEGAS in specific use cases.