High-Rate Timing Resistive Plate Chambers with Ceramic Electrodes

We describe recent advances in developing radiation-hard ceramic resistive plate chambers (CRPCs) with Si3N4/SiC composites. Bulk resistivity measurements for this material for different manufacturing processes are reported. The results show that the bulk resistivity can vary between 10^7 - 10^13 Ohm cm. The varistor type behaviour of the material is analyzed. A comparison with other materials used in timing RPCs is given.
We describe the assembly and tests of CRPC prototypes in electron and proton beams. For a prototype with bulk resistivity 5 x 10^9 Ohm cm, the effciency of the detectors is 95% at a fux of 2 x 10^5 cm^-2 s^-1. The time resolution at the same fux is about 120 ps. A prototype with bulk resistivity 2 x 10^10 Ohm cm shows an effciency of about 85% up to fuxes of 5 x 10^4 cm^-2 s^-1 with a time resolution better than 80 ps. The results are compared with RPC models.