Construction of large-area micro-pattern gaseous detectors

Particle physics experiments often comprise tracking detectors with areas of up to a few square meters. If a spatial resolution of the order of 100μm and high-rate capability are required, Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGD) are a cost-effective solution. However, the construction of large-area MPGDs is challenging, since tight fabrication tolerances have to be met to guarantee a stable and homogeneous performance. A precision granite table and an automated 3-D positioning system with an attached laser sensor, both inside a laminar-flow cell, have therefore been set up in the PRISMA Detector Lab at Mainz. Currently, this infrastructure is used to produce drift panels for the upgrade of t…