The ALICE TPC, a large 3-dimensional tracking device with fast readout for ultra-high multiplicity events

J. Alme(University of Bergen), Y. Andres(European Organization for Nuclear Research), H. Appelshäuser(Goethe University Frankfurt), S. Bablok(University of Bergen), N. Bialas(University of Bergen), R. Bolgen(University of Bergen), U. Bonnes(Technische Universität Darmstadt), R. Bramm(GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research), P. Braun‐Munzinger(Goethe University Frankfurt), R. Campagnolo(European Organization for Nuclear Research), P. Christiansen(Lund University), A. Dobrin(Lund University), C. Engster(European Organization for Nuclear Research), D. Fehlker(University of Bergen), Y. Foka(GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research), U. Frankenfeld(GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research), J. J. Gaardhøje(University of Copenhagen), C. Garabatos(GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research), P. Glässel(Heidelberg University), C. Gonzalez Gutierrez(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Philippe C. Gros(Lund University), H.-Å. Gustafsson(Lund University), H. Helstrup(Western Norway University of Applied Sciences), M. Hoch(European Organization for Nuclear Research), M. Ivanov(European Organization for Nuclear Research), R. Janik(Comenius University Bratislava), A. Junique(European Organization for Nuclear Research), A. Kalweit(Technische Universität Darmstadt), R. Keidel(University of Applied Sciences Worms), S. Kniege(Goethe University Frankfurt), M. Kowalski(Polish Academy of Sciences), D. Larsen(University of Bergen), Y. Lesenechal(European Organization for Nuclear Research), P. Lenoir(European Organization for Nuclear Research), N Lindegaard(University of Copenhagen), C. Lippmann(European Organization for Nuclear Research), M. Mager(European Organization for Nuclear Research), M. Mast(European Organization for Nuclear Research), A. Matyja(Polish Academy of Sciences), M. Munkejord(University of Bergen), L. Musa(European Organization for Nuclear Research), B. S. Nielsen(University of Copenhagen), V. Nikolic(Ruđer Bošković Institute), H. Oeschler(Technische Universität Darmstadt), Erling Olsen(University of Copenhagen), A. Oskarsson(Lund University), L. Österman(Lund University), M. Pikna(Comenius University Bratislava), A. Rehman(European Organization for Nuclear Research), G. Renault(University of Copenhagen), R. Renfordt(Goethe University Frankfurt), S. Rossegger(European Organization for Nuclear Research), D. Röhrich(University of Bergen), K. Røed(Western Norway University of Applied Sciences), M. Richter(University of Bergen), G. Rueshmann(Goethe University Frankfurt), A. Rybicki(Polish Academy of Sciences), H. Sann(University of Copenhagen), H. R. Schmidt(Lund University), Madschen Sia Mei Ol Siska(Comenius University Bratislava), B. Sitár(Comenius University Bratislava), Carsten Soegaard(University of Copenhagen), H.K. Soltveit(Heidelberg University), D. Soyk(University of Copenhagen), J. Stachel(Heidelberg University), Ernst H. K. Stelzer(University of Copenhagen), E. Stenlund(Lund University), R. Stock(Goethe University Frankfurt), P. Strmeň(Comenius University Bratislava), I. Szarka(Comenius University Bratislava), K. Ullaland(University of Bergen), D. Vranić(University of Copenhagen), R. Veenhof(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jytte Westergaard(University of Copenhagen), J. Wiechuła(Heidelberg University), B. Windelband(Heidelberg University)
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment
July 8, 2010
10.1016/j.nima.2010.04.042
Cited by 690Open Access
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Abstract

The design, construction, and commissioning of the ALICE Time-Projection Chamber (TPC) is described. It is the main device for pattern recognition, tracking, and identification of charged particles in the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC. The TPC is cylindrical in shape with a volume close to 90 m3 and is operated in a 0.5 T solenoidal magnetic field parallel to its axis. In this paper we describe in detail the design considerations for this detector for operation in the extreme multiplicity environment of central Pb–Pb collisions at LHC energy. The implementation of the resulting requirements into hardware (field cage, read-out chambers, electronics), infrastructure (gas and cooling system, laser-calibration system), and software led to many technical innovations which are described along with a presentation of all the major components of the detector, as currently realized. We also report on the performance achieved after completion of the first round of stand-alone calibration runs and demonstrate results close to those specified in the TPC Technical Design Report.

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