DIRC, A NEW-TYPE OF PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR BABAR

The DIRC, a new type of Cherenkov imaging device, has been selected as the primary particle identification system for the BABAR detector at the asymmetric B-factory, Per-II. It is based on total internal reflec tion and uses long, rectangular bars made from synthetic fused silica as Cherenkov radiators and light guides. In this paper, the principles of the DIRC ring imaging Cherenkov technique are explained and result s from the prototype program are presented. The studies of the optical properties and radiation hardness of the quartz radiators are describ ed, followed by a discussion of the detector design. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.