Experimental study of uranium plastic scintillator calorimeters

As a preparation for the ZEUS high resolution calorimeter, sampling calorimeters made from 3.2 mm plates of depleted uranium read out by plastic scintillator of 3 mm and 5 mm thickness have been built. The response of hadrons, electrons and muons has been measured in the energy range between 3 and 100 GeV. In agreement with predictions, the relative response of electrons and hadrons as well as the hadronic energy resolution 35% E[GeV]depend strongly on the thickness of the plastic scintillator. For 3.2 mm depleted uranium and 3 mm thick scintillator we observe over the full energy range equal response for electrons and hadrons; a hadronic energy resolution of is obtained. Results are given for the spatial resolution for electrons and hadrons. Finally, results from a lead scintillator calorimeter built as a prestudy before uranium plates were available are reported