Abstract
The central tracking detector of the ZEUS experiment has been in operation since 1992. It is a cylindrical drift chamber, approximately 2m in length and 1m in diameter, and has operated reliably in a magnetic field of 1.43T using a gas mixture of 83:12:5 argon/CO 2/ethane with a trace (∼0.5%) of ethanol. Initial studies conducted between 1995 and 2000 using dE/dx to search for a long-term loss of gain were inconclusive. During the course of 2000, operational problems caused by repeated trips of high-voltage in the outer superlayers of the detector were experienced. These were attributed to the Malter effect, which has shown to be alleviated by the addition of water to the gas mixture. Consequently, a trace of water (∼0.15%) was added to the gas and has, to date, proved to be a successful remedy. Changes in the chamber performance due to the additional water are covered and solutions to the problems encountered are detailed. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 37-42 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment |
| Volume | 515 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2003 |
Keywords
- Ageing
- Charged particle
- High-energy physics
- Tracking
- Water
- Wire chamber
- ZEUS