Discharge probability measurement of a Triple GEM detector irradiated with neutrons

Neutron GEM-based detectors represent a new frontier of diagnostic devices in neutron-linked physics applications such as detectors for fusion experiments (Croci et al., 2012 [1]) and spallation sources (Murtas et al., 2012 [2]). Besides, detectors installed in HEP experiments (like LHC at CERN) are dip in a high flux neutron field. For example, the TOTEM T2 GEM telescope (Bagliesi et al., 2010 [3]) at LHC is currently installed very close to the beam pipe where a high intensity (>10^4ncm^-^2s^-^1) neutron background is present. In order to assess the capability (particularly related to discharge probability) of working in intense neutrons environment, a 10x10cm^2 Triple GEM detector has been tested using a high flux (10^5ncm^-^2s^-^1) neutron beam. The neutron-induced discharge probability P_D_i_s_c_h was measured to be 1.37x10^-^7 at an effective gain G=5x10^4. In addition, the different types of neutron interactions within the detector were fully explained through a GEANT4 simulation.