Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Si3N4/SiC composite is a possible candidate for floating electrodes in resistive plate chambers (RPC).
This detector type has been used in different nuclear physics experiments with soda lime glass electrodes at particle fluxes below 10E3 cm-2 s-1. Future experiments, e.g. at CBM-FAIR, demand a two orders of magnitude higher rate capability. This implies a proportional reduction of the RPC time constant. A manufacturing process has been developed to produce ceramic electrodes with a bulk resistivity varying between 10E8 and 10E12 Ω cm [2].
RPC detector prototypes of different sizes from 2x2 cm2 up to 20x20 cm2 and different bulk resistivity have been exposed with relativistic electrons, protons and ions. Detection efficiencies of 95% have been obtained for minimum ionizing particles at fluxes of up to 5x10E5 cm-2 s-1. The design of different ceramic RPC detectors and their working characteristics will be presented.
Finally, the radiation hardness of the ceramics electrodes has been investigated by neutron exposure with fluxes from 10E10 to 10E14 neq cm-2.