Speaker
Description
The TORCH (Time Of internally Reflected Cherenkov light) detector is proposed for the high-luminosity Upgrade-II of the LHCb experiment, with planned start-up after 2033. The aim of TORCH is to measure time-of-flight with a 15 ps resolution per charged-particle track, providing particle identification over the momentum range 2-15 GeV/c. TORCH is to be located approximately 9.5m downstream of the LHCb interaction point, and comprises 18 modules of highly-polished 1 cm-thick quartz plates, each of area 250 x 66 cm$^2$. Cherenkov photons radiated in the quartz are focussed onto an array of fast-timing micro-channel-plate detectors (MCP-PMTs) which each have a pixelation of 8 x 64 within an active area of 53 x 53 mm$^2$. Test-beam studies have previously shown that a timing resolution of 70 ps per single photon can be achieved on a half-sized module; an update will be given on test-beam results from the CERN PS in 2022. In a parallel programme, a light-weight carbon-fibre support structure for the full-scale module has been designed, which holds the quartz in a vertical position with minimal contact points. A novel exo-skeleton jigging system is used to bond the optical elements and support each module during installation. Recent advances in the development of a 16 x 96 pixelated MCP-PMT will be also be described. Finally, the current status of TORCH preparation for the LHCb Upgrade-II experiment will be presented.
| Collaboration | TORCH Collaboration |
|---|---|
| Role of Submitter | I am the presenter |
