Investigation of Dead Times and Dead Zones in Wire Chambers Operated in the Self-Quenching Streamer Mode

The large saturated pulses of the type referred to as "self-quenching streamer" promise to provide an inexpensive method of radiation detection. We have continued our investigations of the performance of wire chambers operating in this mode, with particular emphasis on measurements of dead times and dead zones. The results of these measurements and their effect on the application of such chambers in high rate environments and for digital gas sampling calorimetry are discussed.