Study of gas Cherenkov detectors for high momentum charged particle identification

We present here an exhaustive study of the possibilities offered by a combination of a gas radiator of the highest index of refraction commercially available (C5 F12) with the proven concept of large area CsI photocathodes instrumenting either a multiwire chamber or a GEM detector. We will present two geometries. One of them is proximity-focusing, nevertheless allows identification in a large momentum range. The second geometry deals with the possibilities of using focusing with a spherical mirror. Simulations of the performance are presented. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved