Speaker
Description
Gaseous detectors play a key role in particle physics, yet their operation often relies on fluorinated gases with very high Global Warming Potential. In particular, Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) operated in avalanche mode typically employ high-performance gas mixtures containing high-GWP components such as C₂H₂F₄ and SF₆.
With increasing environmental concerns and progressively tighter regulations, the reduction or replacement of these gases has become a central challenge. Within the RPC ECOGas@GIF++ Collaboration, a comprehensive R&D program has investigated alternatives to C₂H₂F₄, establishing HFO1234ze-based mixtures as viable candidates for RPC operation in particular under middle-high rate conditions.
Building on these results, a new phase of studies is now focused on the identification of eco-compatible substitutes for SF₆, which plays a crucial role in streamer suppression. This effort includes a re-optimization of the gas mixture composition as well as dedicated modifications of the experimental setup, aimed at maintaining stable detector operation and performance in the absence of SF₆. Several mixture configurations are currently under investigation at the CERN GIF++ facility.
This contribution presents the first results of this new R&D phase, including measurements from the 2026 beam tests, and discusses the prospects for fully SF₆-free RPC operation.