SPS test beam facility

The development of robust and efficient MPGDs entails the understanding of their fundamental properties and performance at several stages of their development phase. This implies a significant investment for laboratory measurements and detector test beam activities to test prototypes and to qualify final detector-system designs, including integrated system tests. The measurements in test-beam facilities cover all the critical performance parameters for new detector systems like efficiency, noise, time, position and energy resolution. For this purpose the area H4 of the SPS test beams was used and modified for the needs of the RD51 community. There is a semi-permanent installation with all the necessary infrastructure needed to test MPGD’s including three beam telescopes made of Micromegas and GEM detectors. The H4 area has the advantage that there is the “Goliath” magnet, which can give up to 1.5 T in a large area, allowing tests of MPGD’s in magnetic field. The RD51 users have moreover the possibility to use the instrumentation, services and infrastructures of the GDD-RD51 laboratory. Radioactive sources and two X-Ray generators are available for calibration, detector optimization and performance studies. Standard gases, mixer units and flammable gas can be used in the laboratory. Clean Rooms are accessible for assembly, modification and inspection of the detectors

Panoramic views of the H4 Test beam area upstream the Goliath magnet. Several test setups may be seen outside and inside the magnet.
Panoramic views of the H4 Test beam area downstream of the Goliath magnet. Several test setups may be seen outside and inside the magnet.