Recent results from the DELPHI barrel ring imaging Cherenkov counter

The DELPHI detector installed in the LEP (Large Electron-Positron Collider) is equipped with RICH (ring imaging Cherenkov) counters. The barrel part incorporates a liquid (C₆F₁₄) and a gaseous (C₅F₁₂) radiator, providing particle identification up to 20 GeV/c. The Cherenkov photons of both radiators are detected by TPC (time projection chamber)-like photon detectors. The drift gas (75% CH₄+25% C₂H₆) is doped with TMAE (tetrakis-dimethylamine-ethylene) by which the ultraviolet Cherenkov photons are converted into single free photoelectrons. These are drifted towards multiwire proportional chambers at the end of the drift tubes, and the space coordinates of the conversion point are determined. One half of the barrel RICH is now equipped with drift tubes and has provided results from the liquid radiator since spring 1990. The gas radiator has been tested with C₂F₆ as a preliminary filling since August 1990. The data obtained demonstrate the good particle identification potential. For the liquid radiator, the number of detected photons per ring in hadron jets is N=8, whereas for muon pairs (single tracks) N=10 has been obtained. For the gas radiator, 2.1 photons per track were observed, which demonstrates good functioning of the focussing mirrors