Detector Laboratory

GEM detectors for TOTEM

The TOTEM experiment at CERN aims for studying total cross sections, elastic scattering and diffraction dissociation of proton-proton collisions at extreme accelerator energies. This can be reached by detecting particles at very forward angles. The measurements require special detectors different from the large general purpose detectors like CMS. The TOTEM experiment will be integrated with the CMS and it is particularly exploiting the forward angles of the CMS experimental setup.

The total cross section requires measurements of rates of elastic and inelastic collisions. For measuring the the inelastic collision rate the Gas Electron Multipliers are crucial. They provide freedom to manufacture detectors in any geometry and possess high radiation tolerance and counting rate possibilities.

Official decision to join the TOTEM experiment was made in 2004 and the GEM detector assembly for TOTEM has been going on in the Detector Laboratory since 2005. The assembly project exploits the world-class GEM expertise of the personnel of the laboratory. A total of 40 GEM detectors assembled at the Detector Laboratory were installed at TOTEM T2 station in 2010.