Beam test results for new full-scale GEM prototypes for a future upgrade of the CMS high-η Muon System

The CMS GEM collaboration is considering Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs) for upgrading the CMS forward muon system in the 1.5 < η < 2.4 endcap region. GEM detectors can provide precision tracking and fast trigger information. They would improve the CMS muon trigger and muon momentum resolution and provide missing redundancy in the high-η region. Employing a new faster construction and assembly technique, we built four full-scale Triple-GEM muon detectors for the inner ring of the first muon endcap station. We plan to install these or further improved versions in CMS during the first long LHC shutdown in 2013/14 for continued testing. These detectors are designed for the stringent rate and resolution requirements in the increasingly hostile environments expected at CMS after the second long LHC shutdown in 2018/19. The new prototypes were studied in muon/pion beams at the CERN SPS. We discuss our experience with constructing the new full-scale production prototypes and present preliminary performance results from the beam test. We also tested smaller Triple-GEM prototypes with zigzag readout strips with 2 mm pitch in these beams and measured a spatial resolution of 73 μm. This readout offers a potential reduction of channel count and consequently electronics cost for this system while maintaining high spatial resolution. © 2012 IEEE.