A NOVEL SYSTEM FOR PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION IN THE 3.0-8 GeV/c RANGE

A threshold imaging Cherenkov (TIC) detector, in conjunction with a tracking device, has been developed to allow pion/kaon, proton identification in the 3–8 GeV/c range of momenta. The most important feature of the system is that it allows spatial identification of the photons of particles above the Cherenkov threshold and their correlation to a particular track. The TIC detector uses a MWPC detector with TMAE for photon conversion into electrons. The first results obtained in ultrarelativistic lead–lead collisions at the CERN SPS accelerator are presented. In a recent development use of a solid CsI cathode instead of TMAE has been successfully tested in proton–lead collisions at the CERN SPS.