Further developments of the gas electron multiplier (GEM)

We describe the development and operation of the Gas Electron Multiplier, a thin insulating foil metal-clad on both sides and perforated by a regular pattern of small holes. The mesh can be incorporat ed in the gas volume of an active detector to provide a first amplification channel for electrons, or used as stand alone. We report on the basic properties of GEMs manufactured with different geometr ies and operated in several gas mixtures as well as on their long-term stability after accumulation of charge equivalent to several years of operation in high luminosity experiments. Optimized GEMs re ach gains close to 10000 at safe operating voltages, permitting the detection of ionizing tracks, without other amplifying elements, on a simple printed circuit board (PCB), opening new possibilities for detector design.