Date of Award

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences

First Advisor

Marcus Hohlmann

Second Advisor

Gnana Bhaskar Tenali

Third Advisor

Francisco Yumiceva

Fourth Advisor

David C. Fleming

Abstract

Thick GEMs are a type of gas electron multiplier, a micropattern gaseous detector, with many applications in research. The subject of this study is whether or not a small 3D printed thick GEM board can be used to form a well-functioning detector. A Thick GEM having three separate board sectors, each having different sized clearance rim annuli around their holes, was designed, printed, and assembled. Several studies to quantify its behavior over both short and long time intervals were conducted, and the results calculated. The THGEM sector with 0.1 mm annulus rims was able to achieve primarily 102 gain, whereas the sector with 0.2 mm annulus rims was able to achieve 103 gain by going to a higher bias voltage than the 0.1mm rim sector was able to achieve. The sector with 0.15 mm annulus rims was the only one able to achieve 104 gain. It was shown for the 0.2 mm rim sector that by leaving the Thick GEM powered for at least 10 hours, it is possible to stabilize the gain at an order of magnitude higher than what it would be if it had been in an off state for some time prior. While there were concerns with the overall long-term functionality of the Thick GEM, we show that they are able to perform as functioning GEMs.

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