Progress towards a THGEM-based detector of single photons

The novel and robust Thick GEM (THGEM) electron multiplier, coupled to a solid state photon converter, represents a promising option for instrumenting, at affordable costs, large areas with photon detectors, in particular, in Cherenkov imaging counters where single photons must be detected with high efficiency. The main goal of our project is to demonstrate the feasibility of reliable gaseous detector of single photons based on the use of THGEM multipliers, able to stably operate at high gain and high rate and to build and validate a large size prototype of such a detector. The project status and perspectives are reported; in particular attention is dedicated to the simulation and laboratory studies performed to understand the photo-electron extraction performance attainable using a solid state coated photo-cathode film onto a THGEM substrate.