This report describes a multi plane drift chamber that was designed and constructed to function as a topological detector for the BNL AGS E896 rare particle experiment. The chamber was optimized for good spatial resolution, two track separation, and a high uniform efficiency while operating in a 1.6T magnetic field and subjected to long term exposure from a 11.6GeV/nucleon beam of 106 Au ions per second.

We report the results of tests of prototype proximity mesh dynode photomultiplier tubes (FEU-527) manufactured by MELS. These tubes were compared with similar Hamamatsu models R5505/R3432-01 to determine their suitability for use in the Time-of-Flight (TOF) subsystem of the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) project. Gain and timing characteristics of these tubes were measured both with and without a magnetic field. The results show that some of the Russian prototype tubes meet the requirements for the STAR TOF subsystem.

Future experiments on RHIC and LHC require the performance of photodetectors with stable operation in strong magnetic fields, 0.5 T for the STAR (RHIC) Time of Flight system (TOF) and more than 3 T for the CMS (LHC) electromagnetic calorimeter. Such photodetectors have to possess a good energy and time resolution, for TOF measurements less than 100 ps [1] simultaneously being radiation hard up to some Mrad. Fine mesh dynode proximity photomultiplier tubes FMPMT developed and produced in recent years by Hamamatsu are the most promising detectors for the above specified goals. Different kinds of PMT were tested by some experimental groups in axial magnetic field up to 1.5 T [2–4]. The obtained PMT time resolution in beam test together with Bicron scintillator was better than 100 ps [1].