arXiv subjects

Kondo Gnanvo

Publications and source records attributed to Kondo Gnanvo.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Development and characterization of MPGD-based transition radiation detectors

Transition Radiation Detectors (TRDs) are useful for electron identification and hadron suppression in high energy nuclear and particle physics experiments. Conventional wire-chamber TRDs face operational limitations due to space charge effects, motivating the replacement of the amplification stage with MicroPattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs). This work explores different MPGD technologies - Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM), Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structure (Micromegas), and Resistive Micro-Well ($μ$RWELL) - as alternative TRD amplification stages. We report on the design, construction, and in-beam characterization of multiple MPGD-based TRD prototypes exposed to 3-20 GeV mixed electron-hadron beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility and at the CERN SPS H8 beamline. Each detector consisted of a multi-layered radiator, an approximately 2 cm deep drift region, an MPGD amplification stage optimized for X-ray transition radiation detection in a Xe:CO$_{2}$ (90:10) gas mixture, and a two-dimensional readout. The GEM-based TRD prototype achieved a pion suppression factor of about 8 at 90% electron efficiency, while the Micromegas-based prototype - with an added GEM preamplification layer - demonstrated improved operational stability and clear TR photon discrimination. The $μ$RWELL prototype achieved stable operation but limited signal gain. Geant4-based studies confirmed the observed trends and highlighted the sensitivity of the TR yield to cathode material and radiator configuration. These studies represent the first in-beam measurements of Micromegas- and $μ$RWELL-based TRDs, along with discussion of the performance capabilities of a triple-GEM-TRD. The results demonstrate the feasibility of MPGDs as scalable, high-rate amplification structures for next-generation TRD applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Design, simulation and performance of the resistive-anode PICOSEC Micromegas detector

The PICOSEC Micromegas detector is a Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector concept developed to achieve tens of picosecond timing resolution for charged particle detection by combining a Cherenkov radiator with a two-stage Micromegas amplification structure. To improve operational robustness, a resistive anode has been implemented using a DLC layer deposited on a Kapton substrate. While this design enhances detector stability, the resistive layer may influence rate capability, signal formation, and detector capacitance, altering timing performance. This work presents a comprehensive study of a resistive design, including an analytical model and finite-element simulations to quantify rate-dependent gain reduction due to ohmic voltage drop on the resistive layer. An analytical solution for the voltage across a finite-size resistive layer is derived, and a numerical model is developed to evaluate gain suppression under intense particle fluxes. The impact of the resistive layer on signal formation is investigated using time-dependent weighting fields and the Garfield++ simulation framework. The contribution of signal components induced by the resistive layer is quantified, and preservation of the signal leading edge is found for surface resistivities above 100 kohm per square. Single-channel resistive-anode prototypes were designed, constructed, and experimentally characterized. Laboratory measurements using single photoelectrons and power spectral density analysis show the predicted reduction in signal amplitude while preserving the leading edge. Muon beam tests with CsI and DLC photocathodes demonstrate a time resolution of 11.5 ps for CsI, comparable to 11.9 ps for the metallic-anode device, showing the suitability of the resistive design for precision timing applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

μRWELL-PICOSEC: Precision Timing with Resistive Micro-Well Detector

The PICOSEC detector concept uses a micro-pattern gaseous detector (MPGD) amplification structure combined with a Cerenkov radiator coated with a semi-transparent photocathode to provide below tens of picosecond-level precision timing capabilities with minimum ionizing particles. PICOSEC has triggered interest in the development of time-of-flight detectors for particle identification and timing detectors for track reconstruction in the high rate environment of future nuclear and high energy physics experiments. The PICOSEC Micromegas (or PICOSEC-MM) detector, developed by the CERN-based PICOSEC collaboration, use the Micromegas structure for gaseous amplification and achieve below 20 ps timing resolution. A new type of PICOSEC detector, the μRWELL-PICOSEC based on μRWELL amplification structure, is being investigated at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) alongside PICOSEC-MM R&D efforts in Europe. Preliminary results from the two 2024 beam test campaigns at CERN demonstrate a timing performance better than 24 ps is achievable with a single-channel μRWELL-PICOSEC prototype. A vigorous R&D effort is ongoing to improve the timing performance, robustness and operational stability of μRWELL-PICOSEC detectors. Development of a large size μRWELL-PICOSEC is also under consideration for applications in large scale experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Development of Thin-Gap GEM-μRWELL Hybrid Detectors

Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) are used for tracking in High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics because of their large area, excellent spatial resolution capabilities and low cost. However, for high energy charged particles impacting at a large angle with respect to the axis perpendicular to detector plane, the spatial resolution degrades significantly because of the long trail of ionization charges produced in clusters all along the track in the drift region of the detector. The long ionization charge trail results in registering hits from large number of strips in the readout plane which makes it challenging to precisely reconstruct the particle position using simple center of gravity algorithm. As a result, the larger the drift gap, the more severe the deterioration of spatial resolution for inclined tracks. For the same reason, the position resolution is also severely degraded in a large magnetic field, where the Lorentz E {\times} B effect causes the ionization charges to follow a curved and longer path in the detector gas volume. In this paper, we report on the development of thin-gap MPGDs as a way to maintain excellent spatial resolution capabilities of MPGD detectors over a wide angular range of incoming particles. In a thin-gap MPGD, the thickness of the gas volume in the drift region is reduced from typically {\sim} 3 mm to {\sim} 1 mm or less. We present preliminary test beam results demonstrating the improvement in spatial resolution from {\sim} 400 μm with a standard 3 mm gap μRWELL prototype to {\sim} 140 μm with a double amplification GEM-μRWELL thin-gap hybrid detector. We also discuss the impact of a thin-gap drift volume on other aspects of the performance of MPGD technologies such as the efficiency and detector stability.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

uRWELL detector developments at Jefferson Lab for high luminosity experiments

One of the future plans at Jefferson Lab is running electron scattering experiments with large acceptance detectors at luminosities $> 10^{37}cm^{-2}s^{-1}$. These experiments allow the measurements of the Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DDVCS) reaction, an important physics process in the formalism of Generalized Parton Distributions, which has never been measured because of its small cross-section. The luminosity upgrade of CLAS12 or the SOLID detector makes Jefferson Lab a unique place to measure DDVCS. One of the important components of these high luminosity detectors is a tracking system that can withstand high rates of $\approx 1MHz/cm^{2}$. The recently developed Micro-Resistive Well (uRWELL) detector technology is a promising option for such a tracking detector by combining good position resolutions, low material budget with simple mechanical construction, and low production costs. In this proceeding, we will discuss recent developments and studies with uRWELL detectors at Jefferson Lab for future upgrades of the CLAS12 detector to study the DDVCS reaction.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Performance of a triple-GEM detector with capacitive-sharing 3-coordinate (X-Y-U)-strip anode readout

The concept of capacitive-sharing readout, described in detail in a previous study, offers the possibility for the development of high-performance three-coordinates (X-Y-U)-strip readout for Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) using simple standard PCB fabrication techniques. Capacitive-sharing (X-Y-U)-strip readout allows simultaneous measurement of the Cartesian coordinates x and y of the position of the particles together with a third coordinate u along the diagonal axis in a single readout PCB. This provides a powerful tool to address multiple-hit ambiguity and enable pattern recognition capabilities in moderate particle flux environment of collider or fixed target experiments in high energy physics HEP) and nuclear physics (NP). We present in this paper the performance of a 10 cm {\times} 10 cm triple-GEM detector with capacitive-sharing (X-Y-U)-strip anode readout. Spatial resolutions of the order of σ^res_x = 71.6 {\pm} 0.8 μm for X-strips, σ^res_y = 56.2 {\pm} 0.9 μm for Y-strips and σ^res_u = 75.2 {\pm} 0.9 μm for U-strips have been obtained at a beam test at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). Modifications of the readout design of future prototypes to improve the spatial resolution and challenges in scaling to large-area MPGDs are discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

A large area 100 channel Picosec Micromegas detector with sub 20 ps time resolution

The PICOSEC Micromegas precise timing detector is based on a Cherenkov radiator coupled to a semi-transparent photocathode and a Micromegas amplification structure. The first proof of concept single-channel small area prototype was able to achieve time resolution below 25 ps. One of the crucial aspects in the development of the precise timing gaseous detectors applicable in high-energy physics experiments is a modular design that enables large area coverage. The first 19-channel multi-pad prototype with an active area of approximately 10 cm$^2$ suffered from degraded timing resolution due to the non-uniformity of the preamplification gap. A new 100 cm$^2$ detector module with 100 channels based on a rigid hybrid ceramic/FR4 Micromegas board for improved drift gap uniformity was developed. Initial measurements with 80 GeV/c muons showed improvements in timing response over measured pads and a time resolution below 25 ps. More recent measurements with a new thinner drift gap detector module and newly developed RF pulse amplifiers show that the resolution can be enhanced to a level of 17~ps. This work will present the development of the detector from structural simulations, design, and beam test commissioning with a focus on the timing performance of a thinner drift gap detector module in combination with new electronics using an automated timing scan method.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Towards robust PICOSEC Micromegas precise timing detectors

The PICOSEC Micromegas (MM) detector is a precise timing gaseous detector consisting of a Cherenkov radiator combined with a photocathode and a MM amplifying structure. A 100-channel non-resistive PICOSEC MM prototype with 10x10 cm^2 active area equipped with a Cesium Iodide (CsI) photocathode demonstrated a time resolution below 18 ps. The objective of this work is to improve the PICOSEC MM detector robustness aspects; i.e. integration of resistive MM and carbon-based photocathodes; while maintaining good time resolution. The PICOSEC MM prototypes have been tested in laboratory conditions and successfully characterised with 150 GeV/c muon beams at the CERN SPS H4 beam line. The excellent timing performance below 20 ps for an individual pad obtained with the 10x10 cm^2 area resistive PICOSEC MM of 20 MOhm/sq showed no significant time resolution degradation as a result of adding a resistive layer. A single-pad prototype equipped with a 12 nm thick Boron Carbide (B4C) photocathode presented a time resolution below 35 ps; opening up new possibilities for detectors with robust photocathodes. The results made the concept more suitable for the experiments in need of robust detectors with good time resolution.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Snowmass 2021 Instrumentation Frontier (IF5 - MPGDs) -- White Paper 2: Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors for Nuclear Physics

Many current and future nuclear physics (NP) experiments across the United States have and are implementing micro-pattern gas detectors (MPGDs) to be used for tracking and PID purposes. MPGDs are capable of operating in high rate environments and providing excellent spatial resolution over a large-area with a low material budget. Summarized in this white paper is the role that MPGDs are playing in NP experiments and the R&D which is needed to meet the requirements of future NP experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Elastic Positron-Proton Scattering at Low Q$^2$

Systematic differences in the the proton's charge radius, as determined by ordinary atoms and muonic atoms, have caused a resurgence of interest in elastic lepton scattering measurements. The proton's charge radius, defined as the slope of the charge form factor at Q$^2$=0, does not depend on the probe. Any difference in the apparent size of the proton, when determined from ordinary versus muonic hydrogen, could point to new physics or need for the higher order corrections. While recent measurements seem to now be in agreement, there is to date no high precision elastic scattering data with both electrons and positrons. A high precision proton radius measurement could be performed in Hall B at Jefferson Lab with a positron beam and the calorimeter based setup of the PRad experiment. This measurement could also be extended to deuterons where a similar discrepancy has been observed between the muonic and electronic determination of deuteron charge radius. A new, high precision measurement with positrons, when viewed alongside electron scattering measurements and the forthcoming MUSE muon scattering measurement, could help provide new insights into the origins of the proton radius puzzle, and also provide new experimental constraints on radiative correction calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Advanced extraction of the deuteron charge radius from electron-deuteron scattering data

To extract the charge radius of the proton, $r_{p}$, from the electron scattering data, the PRad collaboration at Jefferson Lab has developed a rigorous framework for finding the best functional forms - the fitters - for a robust extraction of $r_{p}$ from a wide variety of sample functions for the range and uncertainties of the PRad data. In this paper we utilize and further develop this framework. Herein we discuss methods for searching for the best fitter candidates as well as a procedure for testing the robustness of extraction of the deuteron charge radius, $r_{d}$, from parametrizations based on elastic electron-deuteron scattering data. The ansatz proposed in this paper for the robust extraction of $r_{d}$, for the proposed low-$Q^{2}$ DRad experiment at Jefferson Lab, can be further improved once there are more data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

R&D on GEM Detectors for Forward Tracking at a Future Electron-Ion Collider

We report the status of R&D on large triple-GEM detectors for a forward tracker (FT) in an experiment at a future Electron Ion Collider (EIC) that will improve our understanding of QCD. We have designed a detector prototype specifically targeted for the EIC-FT, which has a trapezoidal shape with 30.1 degrees opening angle. We are investigating different detector assembly techniques and signal readout technologies, but have designed a common GEM foil to minimize NRE cost for foil production. The assembly techniques comprise either a purely mechanical method including foil stretching as pioneered by CMS but with certain modifications, or gluing foils to frames that are then assembled mechanically, or gluing foils to frames that are then glued together. The first two assembly techniques allow for re-opening chambers so that a GEM foil can be replaced if it is damaged. For readout technologies, we are pursuing a cost-effective one-dimensional readout with wide zigzag strips that maintains reasonable spatial resolution, as well two-dimensional readouts - one with stereo-angle (u-v) strips and another with r-phi strips. In addition, we aim at an overall low-mass detector design to facilitate good energy resolution for electrons scattered at low momenta. We present design for GEM foils and other detector parts, which we plan to entirely acquire from U.S. companies.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Performance in Test Beam of a Large-area and Light-weight GEM detector with 2D Stereo-Angle (U-V) Strip Readout

A large-area and light-weight Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector was built at the University of Virginia as a prototype for the detector R$\&$D program of the future Electron Ion Collider. The prototype has a trapezoidal geometry designed as a generic sector module in a disk layer configuration of a forward tracker in collider detectors. It is based on light-weight material and narrow support frames in order to minimize multiple scattering and dead-to-sensitive area ratio. The chamber has a novel type of two dimensional (2D) stereo-angle readout board with U-V strips that provides (r,$φ$) position information in the cylindrical coordinate system of a collider environment. The prototype was tested at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility in October 2013 and the analysis of the test beam data demonstrates an excellent response uniformity of the large area chamber with an efficiency higher than 95%. An angular resolution of 60 $μ$rad in the azimuthal direction and a position resolution better than 550 $μ$m in the radial direction were achieved with the U-V strip readout board. The results are discussed in this paper.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Large Size GEM for Super Bigbite Spectrometer (SBS) Polarimeter for Hall A 12 GeV program at JLab

We report on the R&D effort in the design and construction of a large size Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) for the Proton Polarimeter Back Tracker (BT) of the Super Bigbite Spectrometer (SBS) in Hall A at Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory (JLab). The SBS BT GEM trackers consist of two sets of five large GEM xchambers of size 60 x 200 cm2. The GEM chamber is a vertical stack of four GEM modules, each with an active area of 60 x 50 cm2. We have built and tested several prototypes and the construction of GEM modules for SBS BT is ongoing. We describe in this paper the design and construction of the GEM module prototype as well as the preliminary results on performance from tests carried out in our detector lab and during test beam at Fermi National Laboratory (Fermilab).

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2010

Imaging of high-Z material for nuclear contraband detection with a minimal prototype of a Muon Tomography station based on GEM detectors

Muon Tomography based on the measurement of multiple scattering of atmospheric cosmic ray muons in matter is a promising technique for detecting heavily shielded high-Z radioactive materials (U, Pu) in cargo or vehicles. The technique uses the deflection of cosmic ray muons in matter to perform tomographic imaging of high-Z material inside a probed volume. A Muon Tomography Station (MTS) requires position-sensitive detectors with high spatial resolution for optimal tracking of incoming and outgoing cosmic ray muons. Micro Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) technologies such as Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors are excellent candidates for this application. We have built and operated a minimal MTS prototype based on 30cm \times 30cm GEM detectors for probing targets with various Z values inside the MTS volume. We report the first successful detection and imaging of medium-Z and high-Z targets of small volumes (~0.03 liters) using GEM-based Muon Tomography.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

Performance Expectations for a Tomography System Using Cosmic Ray Muons and Micro Pattern Gas Detectors for the Detection of Nuclear Contraband

We present results from a detailed GEANT4 simulation of a proposed Muon Tomography System that employs compact Micro Pattern Gas Detectors with high spatial resolution. A basic Point-Of-Closest-Approach algorithm is applied to reconstructed muon tracks for forming 3D tomographic images of interrogated targets. Criteria for discriminating materials by Z and discrimination power achieved by the technique for simple scenarios are discussed for different integration times. The simulation shows that Muon Tomography can clearly distinguish high-Z material from low-Z and medium-Z material. We have studied various systematic effects that affect the performance of the MT and the discrimination power. The implications of the simulation results for the planned development of a prototype MT station are discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

GEANT4 Simulation of a Cosmic Ray Muon Tomography System with Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors for the Detection of High-Z Materials

Muon Tomography (MT) based on the measurement of multiple scattering of atmospheric cosmic ray muons traversing shipping containers is a promising candidate for identifying threatening high-Z materials. Since position-sensitive detectors with high spatial resolution should be particularly suited for tracking muons in an MT application, we propose to use compact micro-pattern gas detectors, such as Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs), for muon tomography. We present a detailed GEANT4 simulation of a GEM-based MT station for various scenarios of threat material detection. Cosmic ray muon tracks crossing the material are reconstructed with a Point-Of-Closest-Approach algorithm to form 3D tomographic images of the target material. We investigate acceptance, Z-discrimination capability, effects of placement of high-Z material and shielding materials inside the cargo, and detector resolution effects for such a MT station.

physics.ins-det↗