Beam test and performance assessment for the prototype of a novel compact RICH detector with timing capabilities for the future ALICE 3 PID system at HL-LHC

作者：R. Pillera, L. Congedo, G. De Robertis, A. Di Mauro, M. Giliberti, F. Licciulli, A. Liguori, L. Lorusso, P. Martinengo, M. N. Mazziotta, E. Nappi, Nicola Nicassio, G. Panzarini, G. Volpe · 发表于：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.nima.2025.170708 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Particle Detector Development and Performance、Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies、High-Energy Particle Collisions Research

The ongoing project of ALICE 3 for LHC Run 5 and beyond envisages a Ring-Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector for high-energy charged particle identification. This detector employs an aerogel radiator in proximity-focusing configuration and Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays, with a high-refractive index window for improving the timing capabilities. A small-scale prototype was assembled with Hamamatsu SiPM arrays, various window materials, and a 2 cm aerogel tile. Beam tests at the CERN PS T10 line with pions and protons validated its performance. For the data acquisition we have used Petiroc 2A, Radioroc 2 and picoTDC, achieving a single photon Cherenkov angular resolution of about 4 . 4 mrad at ( 8 − 10 GeV / c ) pion and proton beams and charged particle time resolution better than 50 ps . We present the latest R&D activities and beam test results for the ALICE 3 RICH prototype.