Speaker
Description
The R3B Target Recoil Tracker (TRT) is a silicon-based detector system being developed for the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) accelerator complex in Darmstadt (DE). The TRT is designed to measure recoil particles produced in a fixed target by relativistic radioactive beams, enabling precise reconstruction of reaction kinematics and contributing to the study of exotic nuclei and nucleosynthesis processes. The detector consists of two cylindrical layers of 50um thin ALPIDE sensors (Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors, MAPS) positioned around a hydrogen fixed target within a vacuum chamber. Each detector module incorporates one aluminium flexible printed circuit (FPC), precision glue deposition, and 9 ALPIDE chips. The module material budget is minimised (~0.16%X/X0) to reduce multiple scattering, which would otherwise degrade track reconstruction.
TRT module production requires 60 detector-grade modules, including spares. The modules will be assembled in the UK and shipped to FAIR.
Multiple prototype generations were produced, progressing from low-readiness mock-up assemblies to high-readiness modules using production-grade components and fully functional chips. The precision alignment systems, including the ALICIA assembly machine, significantly improved placement accuracy and assembly consistency.
This poster outlines results and lessons learnt of the medium readiness prototyping campaign. The work focused on establishing a reliable and repeatable assembly process for the detector modules, including optimisation of cleaning procedures, vacuum handling systems, alignment tooling, and glue application techniques. Results demonstrate the importance of iterative prototyping, tooling refinement, and precision assembly techniques to target a consistent high yield production.