不同玻璃制成的阻性板探测器性能研究

Study on the performance of resistive plate counter made of different glass

阻性板探测器(Resistive Plate Counter,RPC)以其高性能、低成本及可大面积制作等特点而被推荐作为在建的江门中微子实验(Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory,JUNO)反符合探测器的方案之一。普通浮法玻璃制作的RPC在深地实验中存在易碎裂和易受潮腐蚀等问题,影响性能稳定性及寿命。利用不同性质的玻璃制作三块RPC,对这三种玻璃的特性研究发现,其具有很好的强度、耐酸碱腐蚀性以及较高的体电阻率;对三种RPC进行宇宙线探测性能测试并测量其在雪崩模式下的探测效率、单计数率和暗电流,测试结果表明,三种RPC探测效率在90%95%之间,具有良好的性能,高电阻使RPC需要较高的电压达到效率坪区,也使其适合低本底的实验。

Background： Resistive Plate Counter （RPC）, which is of good performance at low cost and is suitable for large area production, has been proposed as the veto detector for Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory （JUNO）. However, RPC made of float glass is fragile and susceptible to damp and corrosion in underground experiments. Purpose： This study aims to improve the performance of RPC to enhance its stability and lifetime. Methods： Three RPCs made of three different chemically strengthened glass are tested with cosmic ray. First of all, the properties of these glass were studied to show its high-strength, corrosion-resistant, high bulk resistivity. Then the variation of detection efficiency, single counting rate and dark current curves of RPCs are verified in avalanche mode. Results： The test results show that the chamber＇s efficiency is between 90% and 95% and the single counting rate is at a relatively low level. Conclusion： RPCs made of chemically strengthened glass works well due to the high bulk resistivity. In order to reach plateau operation, higher voltage is required for RPC to suitable working in a very low rate background experiment.