arXiv subjects

David Cussans

Publications and source records attributed to David Cussans.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Performance of a prototype TORCH time-of-flight detector

TORCH is a novel time-of-flight detector, designed to provide charged particle identification of pions, kaons and protons in the momentum range 2-20 GeV/c over a 9.5 m flight path. A detector module, comprising a 10mm thick quartz plate, provides a source of Cherenkov photons which propagate via total internal reflection to one end of the plate. Here, the photons are focused onto an array of custom-designed Micro-Channel Plate Photo-Multiplier Tubes (MCP-PMTs) which measure their positions and arrival times. The target time resolution per photon is 70 ps which, for 30 detected photons per charged particle, results in a 10-15 ps time-of-flight resolution. A 1.25 m length TORCH prototype module employing two MCP-PMTs has been developed, and tested at the CERN PS using a charged hadron beam of 8 GeV/c momentum. The construction of the module, the properties of the MCP-PMTs and the readout electronics are described. Measurements of the collected photon yields and single-photon time resolutions have been performed as a function of particle entry points on the plate and compared to expectations. These studies show that the performance of the TORCH prototype approaches the design goals for the full-scale detector.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Picosecond timing of charged particles using the TORCH detector

TORCH is a large-area, high-precision time-of-flight (ToF) detector designed to provide charged-particle identification in the 2-20 GeV$/c$ momentum range. Prompt Cherenkov photons emitted by charged hadrons as they traverse a 10mm quartz radiator are propagated to the periphery of the detector, where they are focused onto an array of micro-channel plate photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMTs). The position and arrival times of the photons are used to infer the particles' time of entry in the radiator, to identify hadrons based on their ToF. The MCP-PMTs were developed with an industrial partner to satisfy the stringent requirements of the TORCH detector. The requirements include a finely segmented anode, excellent time resolution, and a long lifetime. Over an approximately 10m flight distance, the difference in ToF between a kaon and a pion with 10GeV$/c$ momentum is 35ps, leading to a 10-15ps per track timing resolution requirement. On average 30 photons per hadron are detected, which translates to a single-photon time resolution of 70ps. The TORCH research and development program aims to demonstrate the validity of the detector concept through laboratory and beam tests, results from which are presented. A timing resolution of 70-100ps was reached in beam tests, approaching the TORCH design goal. Laboratory timing tests consist of operating the MCP-PMTs coupled to the TORCH readout electronics. A time resolution of about 50ps was measured, meeting the TORCH target timing resolution.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Timing and Synchronization of the DUNE Neutrino Detector

The DUNE neutrino experiment far detector has a fiducial mass of 40 kt. The O(1 M) readout channels are distributed over the 4 x 10kt modules and need to be synchronized to O( 10 ns ) with a reliable, simple, affordable system. For the majority of channels a simple DC-balanced protocol is used, with clock and synchronization information encoded on the same fibre. The remaining channels use "White Rabbit" (IEEE-1588). Small scale tests show a timing jitter of <100 ps. The DUNE timing system has been successfully prototyped at the ProtoDUNE-SP detector at CERN.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Beam tests of a large-scale TORCH time-of-flight demonstrator

The TORCH time-of-flight detector is designed to provide particle identification in the momentum range 2-10 GeV/c over large areas. The detector exploits prompt Cherenkov light produced by charged particles traversing a 10 mm thick quartz plate. The photons propagate via total internal reflection and are focused onto a detector plane comprising position-sensitive Micro-Channel Plate Photo-Multiplier Tubes (MCP-PMT) detectors. The goal is to achieve a single-photon timing resolution of 70 ps, giving a timing precision of 15 ps per charged particle by combining the information from around 30 detected photons. The MCP-PMT detectors have been developed with a commercial partner (Photek Ltd, UK), leading to the delivery of a square tube of active area 53 $\times$ 53mm$^2$ with a granularity of 8 $\times$ 128 pixels equivalent. A large-scale demonstrator of TORCH, having a quartz plate of dimensions 660 $\times$ 1250 $\times$ 10 mm$^3$ and read out by a pair of MCP-PMTs with custom readout electronics, has been verified in a test beam campaign at the CERN PS. Preliminary results indicate that the required performance is close to being achieved. The anticipated performance of a full-scale TORCH detector at the LHCb experiment is presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Future Opportunities in Accelerator-based Neutrino Physics

This document summarizes the conclusions of the Neutrino Town Meeting held at CERN in October 2018 to review the neutrino field at large with the aim of defining a strategy for accelerator-based neutrino physics in Europe. The importance of the field across its many complementary components is stressed. Recommendations are presented regarding the accelerator based neutrino physics, pertinent to the European Strategy for Particle Physics. We address in particular i) the role of CERN and its neutrino platform, ii) the importance of ancillary neutrino cross-section experiments, and iii) the capability of fixed target experiments as well as present and future high energy colliders to search for the possible manifestations of neutrino mass generation mechanisms.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Status of the TORCH time-of-flight project

TORCH is a time-of-flight detector, designed to provide charged pi/K particle identification up to a momentum of 10 GeV/c for a 10 m flight path. To achieve this level of performance, a time resolution of 15 ps per incident particle is required. TORCH uses a plane of quartz of 1 cm thickness as a source of Cherenkov photons, which are then focussed onto square Micro-Channel Plate Photomultipliers (MCP-PMTs) of active area 53 x 53 mm^2, segmented into 8 x 128 pixels equivalent. A small-scale TORCH demonstrator with a customised MCP-PMT and associated readout electronics has been successfully operated in a 5 GeV/c mixed pion/proton beam at the CERN PS facility. Preliminary results indicate that a single-photon resolution better than 100 ps can be achieved. The expected performance of a full-scale TORCH detector for the Upgrade II of the LHCb experiment is also discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

TORCH: a large area time-of-flight detector for particle identification

TORCH is a time-of-flight detector that is being developed for the Upgrade II of the LHCb experiment, with the aim of providing charged particle identification over the momentum range 2-10 GeV/c. A small-scale TORCH demonstrator with customised readout electronics has been operated successfully in beam tests at the CERN PS. Preliminary results indicate that a single-photon resolution better than 100 ps can be achieved.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Testbeam studies of a TORCH prototype detector

TORCH is a novel time-of-flight detector that has been developed to provide charged-particle identification between 2 and 10 GeV/c momentum. TORCH combines arrival times from multiple Cherenkov photons produced within a 10 mm-thick quartz radiator plate, to achieve a 15 ps time-of-flight resolution per incident particle. A customised Micro-Channel Plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) and associated readout system utilises an innovative charge-sharing technique between adjacent pixels to obtain the necessary 70 ps time resolution of each Cherenkov photon. A five-year R\&D programme has been undertaken, culminating in the construction of a small-scale prototype TORCH module. In testbeams at CERN, this prototype operated successfully with customised electronics and readout system. A full analysis chain has been developed to reconstruct the data and to calibrate the detector. Results are compared to those using a commercial Planacon MCP-PMT, and single photon resolutions approaching 80 ps have been achieved. The photon counting efficiency was found to be in reasonable agreement with a GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation of the detector. The small-scale demonstrator is a precursor to a full-scale TORCH module (with a radiator plate of $660\times1250\times10~{\rm mm^3}$), which is currently under construction.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2009

The LCFIVertex package: vertexing, flavour tagging and vertex charge reconstruction with an ILC vertex detector

The precision measurements envisaged at the International Linear Collider (ILC) depend on excellent instrumentation and reconstruction software. The correct identification of heavy flavour jets, placing unprecedented requirements on the quality of the vertex detector, will be central for the ILC programme. This paper describes the LCFIVertex software, which provides tools for vertex finding and for identification of the flavour and charge of the leading hadron in heavy flavour jets. These tools are essential for the ongoing optimisation of the vertex detector design for linear colliders such as the ILC. The paper describes the algorithms implemented in the LCFIVertex package, as well as the scope of the code and its performance for a typical vertex detector design.

physics.ins-det↗