• Leardini, S.
• Carreira, A. R.
• Corral, R. M.
• González-Díaz, D.
• Moleri, L.
• Azevedo, C. D. R.
• Tesi, Andrea
• Carramate, L.
• Olano-Vegas, L.
• Guitián, F.
• Morales, M.
• Pardo, I.

Abstract

<jats:p>We present a ceramic material based on hematite (Fe<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>) and zirconia stabilized with yttria at 8% molar (YSZ), that exhibits stable electrical properties with transported charge and that can be tuned to the resistivities necessary to induce spark-quenching in gaseous detectors (<jats:italic>ρ</jats:italic> = 10<jats:sup>9</jats:sup>-10<jats:sup>12</jats:sup> Ω⋅cm), from room temperature down to the liquid-vapor coexistence point of nitrogen (77 K). It, thus, allows covering the operating temperatures of most immediate interest to gaseous instrumentation. The ceramics have been produced in a region of mass concentrations far from what has been usually explored in literature: optimal characteristics are achieved for Fe<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> concentrations of 75%wt (LAr boiling temperature), 35%wt (LXe boiling temperature), and 100%wt (room temperature). The nine-orders-of-magnitude enhancement observed for the electrical conductivity of the mixed phases relative to that of pure Fe<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> is startling, however it can be qualitatively understood based on existing literature. Plates of 4 cm × 4 cm have been manufactured and, prior to this work, operated in-detector at the LXe boiling point (165 K), demonstrating spark-free operation. Illustrative results obtained for the first time on a spark-protected amplification structure (RP-WELL) at around the LAr boiling point (90 K) are now presented, too.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• phase
• Nitrogen
• ceramic
• electrical conductivity
• quenching