A transition radiation detector and gas supply system for Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-99).This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is an experiment that will be on the International Space Station for three years. It will look for anti-matter and dark matter. Supersymmetric dark matter could produce an excess in the 10-300GeV positron spectrum. A 10-6 separation of positrons from the more abundant protons is planned for this signal. A TRD (Transition Radiation Detector) has been designed to achieve these physics goals. Besides the radiator, the TRD is a gaseous detector that needs a gas system providing signal stability to 3%. The design, and construction of the TRD gas supply system is described with emphasis on the electronics control.Bilge Melahat Demirköz.S.M