S. Centro

Improving the performance of the liquid argon TPC by doping with tetra-methyl-germanium

Abstract In order to recover the charge lost by electron-ion recombination, we doped pure liquid argon with a photosensitive hydrocarbon, tetra-methyl-germanium (TMG), in the 3 ton ICARUS TPC. A charge increase of 25% to 220% was observed for different electric fields and for energy densities ranging from 1.6 to 32 MeV/cm.

First Operation of the CERN UA1 Central Detector

The Central Detector of the UA1 experiment at the CERN proton-antiproton Collider underwent a first physics run at the end of 1981. The detector consists of a large drift chamber assembly (25 m3, ~ 6000 sense wires). An electronics readout with multi-hit capability simultaneously digitizes the time and the analog information used for charge division and energy measurement. The initial performance of the readout and control system will also be presented. The detector was tested in two cosmic-ray runs, and is now fully operational for the second physics run; this started at the beginning of October 1982.

A microprocessor-controlled readout system for imaging drift chambers

Abstract A multihit compact readout system for drift chambers is described. This system records the drift time, the charge division, and the energy loss for up to 16 hits per wire, giving a three-dimensional representation of multitract events. A total of 1000 channels is used to read the imaging drift chambers in the forward arms in the UA1 apparatus at the CERN proton-antiproton collider.

ICARUS: a neutrino observatory at the Gran Sasso laboratory

Abstract We report on neutrino physics with the ICARUS detector. Extensive Montecarlo simulations have shown that the neutrino physics programme is particularly well suited for the innovative detection technique of the ICARUS experiment.

Detection of energy deposition down to the keV region using liquid xenon scintillation

A possible method for WIMPs detection using liquid xenon scintillation is discussed. Background from cosmic and radioactive gamma rays at energies down to the keV region can be easily rejected by requiring the presence of proportional scintillation. The results from a basic test are presented and a prototype detector design is proposed.

ICARUS liquid argon time projection chamber - A complete imaging detector

Recent operation results of a three-ton liquid argon time projection chamber for the ICARUS project are reported. This elecronic continually sensitive, self-triggering bubble-chamber is capable of providing 3D imaging of any ionizing event in conjunction with a good calorimetric response.