Development of Fe$_2$O$_3$/YSZ ceramic plates for cryogenic operation of resistive-protected gaseous detectors

Abstract

We present a ceramic material based on hematite (Fe$_2$O$_3$) and zirconia stabilized with yttria at 8% molar (YSZ), that exhibits stable electrical properties with transported charge and that can be tuned to the resistivities necessary to induce spark-quenching in gaseous detectors ($\rho = 10^9-10^{12}$ $\Omega \cdot$cm), from room temperature down to the liquid-vapor coexistence point of nitrogen (77 K). It, thus, allows covering the operating temperatures of most immediate interest to gaseous instrumentation. The ceramics have been produced in a region of mass concentrations far from what has been usually explored in literature: optimal characteristics are achieved for Fe$_2$O$_3$ concentrations of 75%wt (LAr boiling temperature), 35%wt (LXe boiling temperature), and 100%wt (room temperature). The nine order of magnitude enhancement observed for the electrical conductivity of the mixed phases relative to that of pure Fe$_2$O$_3$ is startling, however it can be qualitatively understood based on existing literature. Plates of 4 cm x 4 cm have been manufactured and, prior to this work, operated in-detector at the LXe boiling point (165 K), demonstrating spark-free operation. Preliminary results obtained for the first time on a spark-protected amplification structure (RP-WELL) at around the LAr boiling point (90 K) are now presented, too.