Minutes 8-16-2006

FDC Weekly Meeting

Date: August 16, 2006

Participants: Daniel, Simon, Brian

Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 @ 9:30 a.m.

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1). Tensioned Cathode Planes:

   The stretched cathode planes are baking in the oven at ~100 C to
   drive out moisture.  Brian thinks this may be the reason for the
   shorts found on the small-scale prototype.
  - Simon should test the board to see if anything is different now.
  - Brian reported that once the moisture is driven out, it is not
    expected to return.

2). Gas System Work:

   The gas system for the FDC prototype and cosmic chambers are now
   separated.  The Ar/CO2 to the cosmic chambers is now bubbling
   through alcohol at 0 C.
  - Simon should see how the chamber behave and if the noise situation
    is better.

3). Rohacell Order:

   Brian has ordered a sample of Rohacell form (50 in x 100 ft x 5 mm)
   for the cathode plane backing.

4). Cathode Tensioning System:

   Brian has put together the purchase request for the materials and
   labor to make the cathode stretcher for the full-scale detector.
  - The purchase request still needs to be signed.

5). Ground Plane Design:

   Question: What should be the design of the ground planes?  What
   should we use for the dielectric?  What should be the conductor
   thickness?
 - Daniel will ask Gerard and Fernando.

6). Tensioned Cathodes:

   Brian will use real circuit boards for the full-scale tensioning
   tests.  He has been in communication with Chris Cuevas who will
   have someone in his group do the design.
 - We will look into making these ``operational" boards that can be
   read out.
 - How many should be ordered?
 - Frames need to be designed.

7). PC Board Manufacturers:

   Brian should talk to PC board manufacturers.  Can they guarantee
   flatness to our tolerances?
 - Randy Wojcik had identified manufacturers who could handle the
   1 m scale.
 - Brian should follow up on this.

8). Cathode Board Design:

   We discussed a general cathode-ground-cathode mounting and
   design scheme.  Brian should flesh out a plan and discuss this
   next week.

Note: Brian is back to half time on the FDC project.

Minutes prepared by Daniel. Send any comments or corrections along.