C. Renard

DIRC, the internally reflecting ring imaging Cherenkov detector for BABAR

The DIRC is a new type of Cherenkov imaging device that will be used for the first time in the BABAR detector at the asymmetric B-factory, PEP-II. It is based on total internal reflection and uses long, rectangular bars made from synthetic fused silica as Cherenkov radiator and light guide. The principles of the DIRC ring imaging Cherenkov technique are explained and results from the prototype program are presented. Its choice for the BABAR detector particle identification system is motivated, followed by a discussion of the quartz radiator properties and the detector design.

An internally reflecting Cherenkov detector (DIRC): properties of the fused silica radiators

The DIRC, a new type of ring-imaging Cherenkov detector that images internally reflected Cherenkov light, is being constructed as the main hadronic particle identification component of the BABAR detector at SLAC. The device makes use of 5 meter long fused silica (colloquially called quartz) bars, which serve both as the Cherenkov radiators and as light pipes for transmitting the light to an array of photo-multiplier tubes. This paper describes a program of research and development aimed at determining whether bars that meet the stringent requirements of the DIRC can be obtained from commercial sources. The results of studies of bulk absorption of fused silica, surface finish, radiation damage and bulk inhomogeneities are discussed.

BaBar DIRC electronics front-end chain

The Front-End electronics of the Detector of Internally Reflected Cerenkov light (DIRC) for the BaBar experiment is presented. Its aim is to measure to better than 1 ns the arrival time of Cerenkov photoelectrons, detected in a 11000 phototubes array and their amplitude spectra. It mainly comprises 64-channel DIRC Front-End Boards (DFB) equipped with eight full-custom analog chips performing zero-cross discrimination with 2 mV threshold and pulse shaping, four full-custom digital TDC chips for timing measurements with and a readout logic selecting hits in the trigger window, and DIRC Crate Controller cards (DCC) serializing the data collected from up to 16 DFBs onto a 1.2 Gb/s optical link. Extensive test results of the pre-production chips are presented, as well as system tests.

First year operational experience with the Cherenkov detector (DIRC) of BaBar

The DIRC (acronym for Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (light)) is a new type of Cherenkov ring imaging detector based on total internal reflection that is used for the first time in the BaBar detector at the PEP-II ring of SLAC. The Cherenkov radiators are long rectangular bars made of synthetic fused silica, the photon detector is a water tank equipped with an array of 10,752 conventional photomultipliers. The first year operational experience in the BaBar detector is presented using cosmic data and collision data in the energy region of the /spl Upsi/(4S) resonance.

The DIRC front-end electronics chain for BaBar

Recent results from the Front-End electronics of the Detector of Internally Reflected Cerenkov light (DIRC) for the BaBar experiment at SLAC (Stanford, USA) are presented. It measures to better than 1 ns the arrival time of Cerenkov photoelectrons detected in a 11000 phototubes array and their amplitude spectra. It mainly comprises 64-channel DIRC Front-End Boards (DFB) equipped with eight full-custom analog chips performing zero-cross discrimination with 2 mV threshold and pulse shaping, four full-custom digital time to digital chips (TDC) for timing measurements with 500 ps binning and a readout logic selecting hits in the trigger window, and DIRC Crate Controller cards (DCC) serializing the data collected front up to 16 DFBs onto a 1.2 Gb/s optical link. Extensive test results of the pre-production chips are presented, as well as system tests.