Eur. Phys. J. C (2023) 83: 1139
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-12297-x

Regular Article - Experimental Physics

First operation of an ALICE OROC operated in high pressure ${\text{Ar-CO}}_2$ and ${\text{Ar-CH}}_4$

¹ Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK
² University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
³ Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
⁴ Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
⁵ Imperial College London, London, UK
⁶ Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Institut für Physik, 55128, Mainz, Germany

^a harrison.ritchie-yates.2013@live.rhul.ac.uk

Received: 18 May 2023
Accepted: 27 November 2023
Published online: 15 December 2023

Abstract

New neutrino–nucleus interaction cross-section measurements are required to improve nuclear models sufficiently for future long baseline neutrino experiments to meet their sensitivity goals. A time projection chamber (TPC) filled with a high-pressure gas is a promising detector to characterise the neutrino sources used for such experiments. A gas-filled TPC is ideal for measuring low-energy particles, which travel further in gas than in solid or liquid detectors and using high-pressure increases the target density, resulting in more neutrino interactions. We examine the suitability of multiwire proportional chambers (MWPCs) from the ALICE TPC for use as the readout chambers of a high-pressure gas TPC. These chambers were previously operated at atmospheric pressure. We report the successful operation of an ALICE TPC outer readout chamber (OROC) at pressures up to 4.2 bar absolute (barA) with ${\text{Ar-CH}}_4$ mixtures with a ${\text{CH}}_4$ content between 2.8 and 5.0%, and so far up to 4 bar absolute with ${\text{Ar-CO}}_2$ (90-10). The charge gain of the OROC was measured with signals induced by an ${}^{55}\text{Fe}$ source. The largest gain achieved at 4.2 bar was $(29\pm 1)·{10}^3$ in ${\text{Ar-CH}}_4$ with 4.0% ${\text{CH}}_4$ with an anode voltage of $2975\text{V}$. In ${\text{Ar-CO}}_2$ with 10% ${\text{CO}}_2$ at 4 barA, a gain of $(4.2\pm 0.1)·{10}^3$ was observed with anode voltage $2975\text{V}$. We extrapolate that at 10 barA, an interesting pressure for future neutrino experiments, a gain of 5000 in ${\text{Ar-CO}}_2$ with 10% ${\text{CO}}_2$ (10,000 in ${\text{Ar-CH}}_4$ with $\sim 4\%$${\text{CH}}_4$) may be achieved with anode voltage of $4.6\text{kV}$ ($\sim 3.6\text{kV}$).