Comparative studies of MSGC and MSGC – GEM detectors

We describe comparative laboratory and beam test measurements of identical MSGC and GEM-equipped MSGCs. Both kinds of detectors have been tested under exactly the same conditions, using radioactive sources and muon beams. The principal aim of this comparative study was to evaluate the operating conditions for the same resulting gain. Results on efficiencies and spatial resolution are presented. Possible applications of GEM-equipped MSGCs in the LHC environment and the R&D studies needed are discussed.