Optical effects in Gaseous Electron Multipliers (GEMs)

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Edgeman, D., Brunbauer, F. M., Gardner, M., Loomba, D., Majewski, P. A., Marley, T., Millins, L., Neep, T., Nikolopoulos, K., Schueler, J., Tilly, E., Thompson, W.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Edgeman, D.
Brunbauer, F. M.
Gardner, M.
Loomba, D.
Majewski, P. A.
Marley, T.
Millins, L.
Neep, T.
Nikolopoulos, K.
Schueler, J.
Tilly, E.
Thompson, W.
author_facet Edgeman, D.
Brunbauer, F. M.
Gardner, M.
Loomba, D.
Majewski, P. A.
Marley, T.
Millins, L.
Neep, T.
Nikolopoulos, K.
Schueler, J.
Tilly, E.
Thompson, W.
contents Optical time projection chambers (OTPCs) are well suited for applications that require the highest spatial resolution for particle track reconstruction. The MIGDAL experiment uses a glass GEM-based OTPC and observes a systematic excess in both the intensity and width of particle tracks in its optical readout, when compared with charge readout simulations. One hypothesis is that scintillation light produced inside a GEM hole during the avalanche propagates through the GEM substrate and exits neighboring holes. We present lab measurements testing this hypothesized optical broadening effect in three types of GEM substrates: glass, ceramic, and FR4. Our observations quantify this optical broadening and demonstrate it to be strongest in glass GEMs. Additionally, we use Geant4 simulations to both reproduce our observations and quantify optical broadening effects in realistic charge avalanches. Applying our glass GEM effects to simulated particle tracks yields increases of track intensity and widths by up to around 26% and 31%, respectively. This may explain the larger than expected intensity and track widths observed in the MIGDAL OTPC and is expected to be an observed effect in all GEM-based OTPCs.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_27399
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optical effects in Gaseous Electron Multipliers (GEMs)
Edgeman, D.
Brunbauer, F. M.
Gardner, M.
Loomba, D.
Majewski, P. A.
Marley, T.
Millins, L.
Neep, T.
Nikolopoulos, K.
Schueler, J.
Tilly, E.
Thompson, W.
Instrumentation and Detectors
High Energy Physics - Experiment
Optical time projection chambers (OTPCs) are well suited for applications that require the highest spatial resolution for particle track reconstruction. The MIGDAL experiment uses a glass GEM-based OTPC and observes a systematic excess in both the intensity and width of particle tracks in its optical readout, when compared with charge readout simulations. One hypothesis is that scintillation light produced inside a GEM hole during the avalanche propagates through the GEM substrate and exits neighboring holes. We present lab measurements testing this hypothesized optical broadening effect in three types of GEM substrates: glass, ceramic, and FR4. Our observations quantify this optical broadening and demonstrate it to be strongest in glass GEMs. Additionally, we use Geant4 simulations to both reproduce our observations and quantify optical broadening effects in realistic charge avalanches. Applying our glass GEM effects to simulated particle tracks yields increases of track intensity and widths by up to around 26% and 31%, respectively. This may explain the larger than expected intensity and track widths observed in the MIGDAL OTPC and is expected to be an observed effect in all GEM-based OTPCs.
title Optical effects in Gaseous Electron Multipliers (GEMs)
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
High Energy Physics - Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.27399