arXiv subjects

Ankit Gaur

Publications and source records attributed to Ankit Gaur.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Timing and Charge measurement of single gap Resistive Plate Chamber Detectors for INO-ICAL Experiment

The recently approved India-based Neutrino Observatory will use the world's largest magnet to study atmospheric muon neutrinos. The 50 kiloton Iron Calorimeter consists of iron alternating with single-gap resistive plate chambers. A uniform magnetic field of $\sim$1.5 T is produced in the iron using toroidal-shaped copper coils. Muon neutrinos interact with the iron target to produce charged muons, which are detected by the resistive plate chambers, and tracked using orthogonal pick up strips. Timing information for each layer is used to discriminate between upward and downward traveling muons. The design of the readout electronics for the detector depends critically on an accurate model of the charge induced by the muons, and the dependence on bias voltages. In this paper, we present timing and charge response measurements using prototype detectors under different operating conditions. We also report the effect of varying gas mixture, particularly $SF_6$, on the timing response.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Development and Commissioning of the HARDROC based Readout for the INO-ICAL Experiment

Glass based Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) are going to be used as an active element in the Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) experiment at the India based Neutrino Observatory (INO), which is being constructed to study atmospheric neutrinos. Though the RPC detector operational parameters are more or less finalized, the readout electronics is being developed using various technologies. The ICAL experiment will consist of about 29,000 RPC detectors of 2 m $\times$ 2 m in size with each detector having 64 readout channels both in the X and Y directions. The present study focusses on multi-channel electronics based on SiGe 350 nm technology as an option for the INO-ICAL RPC detectors. The study includes commissioning and usage of frontend application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) HARDROC chip in which 64 channels are handled independently to perform zero suppression. We present first testbench results using the HARDROC chip with the aim to use it finally in the ICAL experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Physics Potential of the ICAL detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)

The upcoming 50 kt magnetized iron calorimeter (ICAL) detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is designed to study the atmospheric neutrinos and antineutrinos separately over a wide range of energies and path lengths. The primary focus of this experiment is to explore the Earth matter effects by observing the energy and zenith angle dependence of the atmospheric neutrinos in the multi-GeV range. This study will be crucial to address some of the outstanding issues in neutrino oscillation physics, including the fundamental issue of neutrino mass hierarchy. In this document, we present the physics potential of the detector as obtained from realistic detector simulations. We describe the simulation framework, the neutrino interactions in the detector, and the expected response of the detector to particles traversing it. The ICAL detector can determine the energy and direction of the muons to a high precision, and in addition, its sensitivity to multi-GeV hadrons increases its physics reach substantially. Its charge identification capability, and hence its ability to distinguish neutrinos from antineutrinos, makes it an efficient detector for determining the neutrino mass hierarchy. In this report, we outline the analyses carried out for the determination of neutrino mass hierarchy and precision measurements of atmospheric neutrino mixing parameters at ICAL, and give the expected physics reach of the detector with 10 years of runtime. We also explore the potential of ICAL for probing new physics scenarios like CPT violation and the presence of magnetic monopoles.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Characterization of 3 mm Glass Electrodes and Development of RPC Detectors for $INO-ICAL$ Experiment

India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is a multi-institutional facility, planned to be built up in South India. The INO facility will host a 51 kton magnetized Iron CALorimeter (ICAL) detector to study atmospheric muon neutrinos. Iron plates have been chosen as the target material whereas Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) have been chosen as the active detector element for the ICAL experiment. Due to the large number of RPCs needed ($\sim$ 28,000 of $2~m \times 2~m$ in size) for ICAL experiment and for the long lifetime of the experiment, it is necessary to perform a detailed $R\&D$ such that each and every parameter of the detector performance can be optimized to improve the physics output. In this paper, we report on the detailed material and electrical properties studies for various types of glass electrodes available locally. We also report on the performance studies carried out on the RPCs made with these electrodes as well as the effect of gas composition and environmental temperature on the detector performance. We also lay emphasis on the usage of materials for RPC electrodes and the suitable enviormental conditions applicable for operating the RPC detector for optimal physics output at INO-ICAL experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Characterisation of Glass Electrodes and RPC Detectors for $INO-ICAL$ Experiment

India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is a planned neutrino experiment to be build up in southern part of India.The INO observatory will host a 51 kton Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector to detect atmospheric neutrinos. Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) has been chosen as the active detector element for the ICAL experiment. The ICAL experiment will consist of about 28,000 RPC's of dimension $2~m\times 2~m$, divided into three modules. The experiment is planned to take data at least for 20 years from its start date. Due to the large number of RPC needed for ICAL experiment and the long lifetime of the experiment, it is necessary to carry out detailed $R\&D$ to optimise each and every parameter of the detector performance. We report on the performance studies carried out on the RPC's made with these electrodes, and finally compare the detector performance with that of the material properties to optimise the detector parameters.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Study of RPC bakelite electrodes and detector performance for INO-ICAL

The Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) are going to be used as the active detectors in the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)-Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) experiment for the detection and study of atmospheric neutrinos. In this paper, an extensive study of structural and electrical properties for different kind of bakelite RPC electrodes is presented. RPCs fabricated from these electrodes are tested for their detector efficiency and noise rate. The study concludes with the variation of efficiency, leakage current and counting rate over the period of operation with different gas compositions and operational conditions like temperature and relative humidity.

physics.ins-det↗