Experience with a static magnetostrictive readout system for wire chambers

Abstract

Bespalova et al. have described a scheme for wire chamber readout which makes use of the permanent magnetization of the magnetostrictive line for temporary storage of coordinate information. The advantage of this scheme is that it can significantly reduce the cost of the electronics needed to read out a system with many chambers. We have adopted this technique to read out spark coordinates in an array of spark chambers to detect [gamma] showers. This array has been used successfully in an experiment in which bsim; 107 events were recorded. We discuss our experience with this type of readout and its advantages and disadvantages relative to the more common "prompt" readout system.