A new Time of Flight (TOF) detector based on scintillator bars
with fine-mesh photomultipliers at both ends has been in operation since
2001 in the CDF experiment. With a design resolution of 100 ps, the TOF can
provide separation between K+/- and pi+/- in p anti-p collisions at the 2
sigma level for low momentum, which enhances b flavor tagging capabilities.
Because of its very fast response, the TOF is an excellent triggering
device, and it is used to trigger on highly ionizing particles, multiple
minimum ionizing particles and cosmic rays. Particle identification is
achieved by comparing the time-of-flight of the particle measured by the TOF
to the time expected for a given mass hypothesis. In order to obtain the
resolution necessary for particle ID, optimal calibrations are critical.
This paper describes the TOF detector, its calibration procedure, the
achieved resolution, the long term operation performances and some of the
first results from data analysis using this detector.
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Updated: Thursday, 2003 December 11 15:20:28 CST automatically from input from "Carol I. Picciolo"