Electron identification with an upgraded VENUS detector

Abstract We describe a new method of electron identification using a large cylindrical transition radiation detector together with the central drift chamber and lead glass calorimeter in the VENUS detector system. With this method we have obtained a pion suppression factor of 3600 and an electron efficiency of about 70% for isolated tracks. For pions in hadronic jets the suppression factor is 135–700 with an electron efficiency of about 60%.