The ion trap: a new approach to gaseous microstructure detectors

A new approach for building gas avalanche amplification structures, the ion trap, is proposed. This technique was devised to obtain a new class of gas amplification devices with a fast signal response due to rapid ion charge evacuation, low space charge build-up useful in high-rate applications, and low ion feedback. gn of the closed-geometry position-sensitive Ion Trap MicroStrip (ITMS) detector is proposed. The implementation of this novel microstructure detector design with 3D electrodes is based on new materials and micro-fabrication techniques recently developed in the field of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Extensive simulations have been made to study the performance of the ITMS detector. The modelled microstructure is shown to deliver the ion feedback below 4% with drift fields up to 4.5 kV/cm and fast signals induced by 95% of all ions reaching the cathodes in ∼30 ns in Ar/CO2 (70/30) gas mixture. e of the ITMS detector with a cascaded GEM preamplifier may prove to be a feasible solution to achieve the ion feedback suppression levels required in the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) applications and in operation with solid photon converters in the reflective mode.