MPGD-Based Transition Radiation Detector for Tracking and Electron ID at the EIC

Success of scientific goals at future high energy nuclear physics experiments relies on increasingly precise measurements; the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) is the forthcoming collider designed to address unanswered questions in this field. Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGDs), planned for use in the EIC, are robust particle tracking devices; extensive R&D is ongoing to advance current limitations and designs. As tracking instruments, MPGDs do not perform particle identification (PID); transition radiation detectors (TRDs) are widely used for electron (e) ID, which can signal rare physics and provide access to processes of interest.

My research involves the design, build, and testing of an innovative MPGD tracker integrated with a TRD in an effort to extend MPGD usage to e ID. A prototype of this hybrid detector has been built at VU and tested at JLab; I will present on its design and operation, and show preliminary studies on quantifying its performance. I will also describe future planned studies, including simulation in the EIC detector software framework to evaluate how the performance changes when MPGD-TRD is included in the large-scale experiment. A high-granularity tracker combined with a TRD may provide a cost-effective option for enhancing e ID in next generation colliders.