Improving Delay Wire Chamber Performance Using Electronegative Gases

Abstract This research proposal was shortlisted among the Top 49 worldwide (top 10%) in the 2024 CERN Beamline for Schools competition. The study addresses the environmental impact of gaseous particle detectors, specifically Delay Wire Chambers (DWCs), which historically rely on "magic gas" mixtures containing high-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Freons (e.g., Freon-13B1). We propose a novel, sustainable gas mixture integrating R-1234ze (GWP ≈ 6) and Novec 5110 (GWP < 1) as electronegative additives to the standard Argon/CO₂ mixture. The research hypothesizes that this eco-friendly composition can effectively neutralize space charge effects and limit Townsend avalanche spread, thereby matching the high gas gain and spatial resolution of legacy mixtures without the environmental cost. The proposal outlines a theoretical experimental setup utilizing the T9 proton beam line at CERN, employing a scintillator trigger system with AND-gate logic to measure key performance metrics: gas gain, spatial resolution, time resolution, and efficiency.