Optimization of the Design of a GEM Tracker Based on Gas Flow Simulations with COMSOL

V. De Smet[1], V. Bellini[2], E. Cisbani[3], F. Noto[2], F. Mammoliti[2], C. M. Sutera[4], and M. Mangiameli[4]
[1]Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, Italy; Haute Ecole Paul-Henri Spaak, ISIB, Bruxelles, Belgium
[2]Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, Italy; INFN – Sezione di Catania, Catania, Italy
[3]INFN – Sezione di Roma - Sanità Group, Roma, Italy; Italian National Institute of Health, Roma, Italy
[4]INFN - Sezione di Catania, Catania, Italy
Published in 2011

A Computational Fluid Dynamics study has been performed for a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector of high energy charged particles, currently under development as part of a new tracker of the high luminosity spectrometers in Hall A at Jefferson Lab.

By gradual modifications of the geometry simulated in COMSOL, the design of the frame separating two GEM foils has been optimized with the aim to reach a better gas flow uniformity over the active area of the module. Modifications concern the design of the frame’s grid as well as its gas inlets and outlets. In particular, the number and size of stagnation zones have been reduced in the gas flow.