The multigap RPC detector and the ALICE time-of-flight

One of the new detectors invented within the LAA project is the Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC). The MRPC has been selected as the Time-of-Flight detector of choice for the ALICE experiment. The R and D program to optimise the MRPC for this application has now been completed, resulting in a device with 10 gas gaps of 250 mu m in width; a summary is given in this paper. Concerning the front-end electronics, there is an on-going development of an ASIC using 0.25 micron CMOS; the excellent performance of the ASIC is evident from the initial tests; some results will be shown here. Finally the timing properties of this detector open up other applications such as for Positron Electron Tomography. (author)