Properties of Multigap RPC detectors tested with continuous electron beams at ELBE

Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC) provide the possibility for assembling high-granularity, large-area TOF sytems designed for modern nuclear and particle physics experiments. Currently, experiments like ALICE, STAR, FOPI, HADES prepare MRCP based TOF systems with time resolutions of less than 100 ps. The planned CBM experiment at the future FAIR facility at GSI/Darmstadt considers using an MRPC system provided sufficient time resolution and rate stability can be achieved. These properties of MRCP have been successfully demonstrated in prototype tests performed at the FZD electron linac ELBE, using continuous e− beams of 20-40 MeV. Typical time resolutions of 70 ps were achieved. The rate capabilities of MRCP using special low-resistive silicate glas were tested and stable efficiencies up to rates of 20 kHz/cm2 were observed.