I. Crotty et al., THE NON-SPARK MODE AND HIGH-RATE OPERATION OF RESISTIVE PARALLEL-PLATE CHAMBERS, Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 337(2-3), 1994, pp. 370-381
The good time and position resolution of the resistive plate chamber (
RPC) make it an attractive candidate for muon trigger systems at futur
e colliders. However, this device has severe rate problems that make i
t unusable above 1 Hz/cm(2) in its present form. We have investigated
various materials and have also discovered a new mode of operation tha
t allowed us to operate the RPC at 150 Hz/cm(2). We discuss further im
provements that may extend operation to even higher rates. We also dis
cuss spark formation and explain the cause for the abnormally late spa
rk signals.