The Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) timing charge detector

H. S. Ahn, P. S. Allison, M. G. Bagliesi, J. J. Beatty, G. Bigongiari, P. Boyle, J. T. Childers, N. B. Conklin, S. Coutu, M. A. DuVernois, O. Ganel, J. H. Han, J. A. Jeon, K. C. Kim, J. K. Lee, M. H. Lee, L. Lutz, P. Maestro, A. Malinin, P. S. MarrocchesiS. A. Minnick, S. I. Mognet, S. W. Nam, S. L. Nutter, I. H. Park, N. H. Park, E. S. Seo, R. Sina, S. P. Swordy, S. P. Wakely, J. Wu, J. Yang, Y. S. Yoon, R. Zei, S. Y. Zinn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of detectors based on plastic scintillator with photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) is common in cosmic-ray experiments to differentiate particle charges. However, in the presence of a calorimeter, the standard method of pulse charge integration over a time longer than a PMT pulse is hampered by abundant albedo particles. The Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) instrument surmounts this problem by measuring the peak voltage of the PMT pulse within ∼ 3 ns of a threshold crossing in the readout of a timing charge detector (TCD). The design and performance of the TCD is presented. A charge resolution of 0.2 e for oxygen and 0.4 e for iron is obtained for through-going cosmic-ray particles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)525-536
Number of pages12
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume602
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Instrumentation

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