F. M. Brunbauer, R. Aleksan, Y. Angelis, S. Aune, J. Bortfeldt, M. Brunoldi, J. Datta, D. Desforge, G. Fanourakis, D. Fiorina, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, K. Gnanvo, Q. Huang, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, A. Kallitsopoulou, I. Karakoulias, M. Kovacic, P. Legou, M. Lisowska, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, I. Maniatis, M. Micetic, H. Muller, E. Oliveri, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, L. Ropelewski, K. Salamon, D. Sampsonidis, L. Scharenberg, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, N. Shankman, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. E. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The combination of a Cherenkov radiator with a semi-transparent photocathode and a Micromegas based amplification stage allows PICOSEC Micromegas detectors to achieve a time resolution of better than 15ps. While tileable prototypes with 10x10 channels feature 1x1 cm^2 readout pads, finer readout granularity can be used to improve the spatial resolution. We report on the study of high readout granularity PICOSEC Micromegas prototypes which achieve around 0.5mm spatial resolution with 3.5mm large pads. No significant improvement was found when readout pad size was further reduced to 2.2mm. The timing resolution of the leading pad was found to be slightly degraded but remained better than 20ps for a medium granularity prototype. The achieved spatial resolution can enable PICOSEC Micromegas to be used as precise timing and moderate resolution tracking detector simultaneously.
M. Lisowska, R. Aleksan, Y. Angelis, S. Aune, J. Bortfeldt, F. Brunbauer, M. Brunoldi, E. Chatzianagnostou, J. Datta, K. Dehmelt, G. Fanourakis, S. Ferry, D. Fiorina, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, K. Gnanvo, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, A. Kallitsopoulou, M. Kovacic, B. Kross, C. C. Lai, P. Legou, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, I. Maniatis, J. McKisson, Y. Meng, H. Muller, R. De Oliveira, E. Oliveri, G. Orlandini, A. Pandey, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, M. Robert, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, L. Scharenberg, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, L. Viezzi, P. Vitulo, C. Volpato, X. Wang, S. White, W. Xi, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The PICOSEC Micromegas detector is a~precise-timing gaseous detector based on a~Cherenkov radiator coupled with a~semi-transparent photocathode and a~Micromegas amplifying structure, targeting a~time resolution of tens of picoseconds for minimum ionising particles. Initial single-pad prototypes have demonstrated a~time resolution below 25 ps, prompting ongoing developments to adapt the concept for High Energy Physics applications, where sub-nanosecond precision is essential for event separation, improved track reconstruction and particle identification. The achieved performance is being transferred to robust multi-channel detector modules suitable for large-area detection systems requiring excellent timing precision. To enhance the robustness and stability of the PICOSEC Micromegas detector, research on robust carbon-based photocathodes, including Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) and Boron Carbide (B4C), is pursued. Results from prototypes equipped with DLC and B4C photocathodes exhibited a~time resolution of approximately 32 ps and 34.5 ps, respectively. Efforts dedicated to improve detector robustness and stability enhance the feasibility of the PICOSEC Micromegas concept for large experiments, ensuring sustained performance while maintaining excellent timing precision.
A. Kallitsopoulou, R. Aleksan, Y. Angelis, S. Aune, J. Bortfeldt, F. Brunbauer, M. Brunoldi, E. Chatzianagnostou, J. Datta, D. Desforge, G. Fanourakis, D. Fiorina, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, K. Gnanvo, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, M. Kovacic, B. Kross, P. Legou, M. Lisowska, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, I. Maniatis, J. McKisson, Y. Meng, H. Muller, E. Oliveri, G. Orlandini, A. Pandey, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, L. Scharenberg, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. E. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, W. Xi, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The PICOSEC-Micromegas (PICOSEC-MM) detector is a novel gaseous detector designed for precise timing resolution in experimental measurements. It eliminates time jitter from charged particles in ionization gaps by using extreme UV Cherenkov light emitted in a crystal, detected by a Micromegas photodetector with an appropriate photocathode. The first single-channel prototype tested in 150 GeV/c muon beams achieved a timing resolution below 25 ps, a significant improvement compared to standard Micropattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs). This work explores the specifications for applying these detectors in monitored neutrino beams for the ENUBET Project. Key aspects include exploring resistive technologies, resilient photocathodes, and scalable electronics. New 7-pad resistive detectors are designed to handle the particle flux. In this paper, two potential scenarios are briefly considered: tagging electromagnetic showers with a timing resolution below 30 ps in an electromagnetic calorimeter as well as individual particles (mainly muons) with about 20 ps respectively.
A. Kallitsopoulou, R. Aleksan, S. Aune, J. Bortfeldt, F. Brunbauer, M. Brunoldi, J. Datta, D. Desforge, G. Fanourakis, D. Fiorina, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, K. Gnanvo, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, F. Jeanneau, M. Kovacic, B. Kross, P. Legou, M. Lisowska, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, I. Maniatis, J. McKisson, Y. Meng, H. Muller, E. Oliveri, G. Orlandini, A. Pandey, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, E. Ferrer-Ribas, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, L. Scharenberg, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. E. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, W. Xi, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
We present a comprehensive characterization of resistive PICOSEC Micromegas detector prototypes, tested under identical conditions, constant drift gap, field configurations, and photocathode at the CERN SPS H4 beam line. This work provides a proof of concept for the use of resistive layer technology in gaseous timing detectors, demonstrating that robustness can be improved without compromising the excellent timing performance of PICOSEC Micromegas. Different resistive architectures and values were explored to optimize stability and ensure reliable long-term operation in challenging experimental environments. The prototype with a 10MΩ resistive layer achieved the best overall performance, with a timing resolution of 22.900 {\pm} 0.002 ps and a spatial resolution of 1.190 {\pm} 0.003 mm, while charge sharing across multiple pads enabled combined timing resolutions below 28 ps. A lower-resistivity (200kΩ) configuration exhibited enhanced charge spread, leading to minor systematic offsets in reconstructed pad centers, yet maintained robust timing and spatial performance. Capacitive charge-sharing architectures improved spatial resolution in some regions but suffered from signal attenuation and nonuniform charge distributions, resulting in slightly degraded timing (33.300 {\pm} 0.002 ps) and complex localization patterns. Mechanical precision, particularly readout planarity and photocathode alignment, was identified as critical for uniform detector response. These studies benchmark the potential of resistive layers for gaseous timing detectors and provide a foundation for scalable designs with optimized timing and spatial resolution across diverse experimental applications.
M. Lisowska, F. Guerra, A. Gurpinar, D. Zavazieva, R. Aleksan, S. Aune, J. Bortfeldt, A. Breskin, F. M. Brunbauer, M. Brunold, J. Datta, G. Fanourakis, S. Ferry, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, D. Janssens, E. Jelinkova, A. Kallitsopoulou, I. Karakoulias, M. Kovacic, P. Legou, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, D. J. G. Marques, Y. Meng, H. Muller, R. De Oliveira, E. Oliveri, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, T. Schneider, B. Schoenfelder, E. Scorsone, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, L. Viezzi, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The PICOSEC Micromegas detector is a precise-timing gaseous detector that combines a Cherenkov radiator, a semi-transparent photocathode and a Micromegas amplification stage, targeting time resolutions of tens of picoseconds for minimum ionising particles (MIPs). Initial single-pad prototypes achieved $σ<25$ ps, demonstrating strong potential for High Energy Physics (HEP) applications. The objective of this paper is a~comprehensive characterisation of photocathodes, with a strong focus on robust materials while preserving excellent timing performance. The study includes laboratory measurements of optical and resistive properties together with beam tests using 150 GeV/$c$ muons to evaluate time resolution and photoelectron yield for various photocathodes. The best performance was delivered by a~5\,nm Cesium Iodide (CsI) photocathode, reaching $σ= 10.9 \pm 0.3$ ps with more than 30 extracted photoelectrons, representing the most precise time resolution achieved by PICOSEC Micromegas to date. Metallic and carbon-based photocathodes, including Titanium (Ti), Boron Carbide (B$_4$C) and Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), were also tested, with Ti and B$_4$C emerging as the most promising alternatives, achieving $σ\approx 30$ ps with about 5 extracted photoelectrons. These results demonstrate that improved robustness can be achieved while maintaining excellent time resolution, supporting the feasibility of using the PICOSEC Micromegas concept in future experiments.
A. Kallitsopoulou, S. Aune, Y. Angelis, R. Aleksan, A. Bonenfant, J. Bortfeldt, F. Brunbauer, M. Brunoldi, J. Datta, D. Desforge, G. Fanourakis, D. Fiorina, K. J. Floethner, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, K. Gnanvo, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, F. Jeanneau, M. Kebbiri, M. Kovacic, B. Kross, P. Legou, M. Lisowska, J. Liu, C. Loiseau, M. Lupberger, I. Maniatis, J. McKisson, B. Moreno, Y. Meng, H. Muller, E. Oliveri, G. Orlandini, A. Pandey, T. Papaevangelou, M. Pomorski, E. F. Ribas, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, L. Scharenberg, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. E. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, W. Xi, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The PICOSEC-Micromegas (PICOSEC-MM) detector is a fast gaseous detector that achieves picosecond-level timing by coupling a Cherenkov radiator, typically an MgF2 crystal, to a Micromegas-based photodetector with a photocathode. This configuration allows the fast photoelectron-induced signal to suppress the intrinsic time jitter of gaseous detectors, enabling sub-20 ps timing precision while preserving the robustness and scalability of micro-pattern gaseous detector technologies. The 96-pad PICOSEC-MM detector is a large-area demonstrator optimized for precision timing in high-energy physics, building on research and development insights from earlier 7-pad resistive prototypes to validate scalability, uniformity, and robustness for the ENUBET project. It employs a 2.5 nm diamond-like carbon photocathode and a Micromegas board with a surface resistivity of 10 megaohms per square, and was characterized using 150 GeV/c muons at the CERN SPS beamline, with one-third of the active area instrumented per run. A dedicated alignment procedure for multi-pad PICOSEC-MM systems was used to reconstruct pad centers and merge measurements across regions, yielding a timing resolution of 43 ps and uniform signal arrival time distributions over the tested area. Mechanical flatness was identified as a key factor, with planarity tolerances within 10 micrometers required to maintain good timing resolution, and the successful operation of the 96-pad demonstrator confirms the scalability of the PICOSEC-MM concept toward robust, high-granularity, picosecond-level gaseous timing detectors for monitored neutrino beam experiments such as ENUBET.
A. Pandey, K. Gnanvo, B. Kross, J. McKisson, A. Weisenberger, W. Xi, J. Dutta, N. Shankman, L. Scharenberg, J. Alozy, Y. Angelis, S. Aune, R. Ballabriga, J. Bortfeldt, F. Brunbauer, M. Brunoldi, M. Campbell, R. De Oliveira, G. Fanourakis, J. M. Fernandez-Tenllado, K. J. Flöthner, D. Fiorina, M. Gallinaro, F. Garcia, I. Giomataris, S. Gomez, F. J. Iguaz, D. Janssens, A. Kallitsopoulou, M. Kovacic, P. Legou, M. Lisowska, J. Liu, M. Lupberger, R. Manera, I. Maniatis, A. Mariscal, J. Mauricio, Y. Meng, H. Muller, E. Oliveri, G. Orlandini, T. Papaevangelou, E. Picatoste, M. Piller, M. Pomorski, L. Ropelewski, D. Sampsonidis, A. Sanuy, T. Schneider, E. Scorsone, L. Sohl, M. van Stenis, Y. Tsipolitis, S. E. Tzamarias, A. Utrobicic, I. Vai, R. Veenhof, P. Vitulo, X. Wang, S. White, Z. Zhang, Y. Zhou
The $\upmu$RWELL-PICOSEC detector, which combines a $\upmu$RWELL gaseous amplification structure with a Cherenkov radiator and photocathode, is a novel approach to acheive fast and precise timing in gaseous detectors. With timing precision at the level of tens of picoseconds, this technology is particularly suited for time-of-flight (TOF) applications in particle physics and potentially medical imaging. Beam tests with a 150~GeV/$c$ muon beam have been carried out on a large-area (10~$\times$~10~cm$^{2}$) prototype equipped with a cesium iodide (CsI) photocathode. Using an oscilloscope-based single-channel readout, timing measurements on two individual pads of the detector have yielded resolutions of $\approx$ 48 ps and $\approx$ 52 ps under different biasing conditions respectively.