The performance of GridPix detectors

A GridPix detector is a gaseous detector capable of detecting individual single primary electrons from ionizing particles. Such a detector consists of a pixel chip as active anode covered with a thin layer of silicon rich silicon nitride (SiRN) for protection against discharges, an integrated amplification grid (InGrid), applied on top of the chip by wafer post processing techniques, and a cathode plane. The drift region is between the grid and cathode while the gas gain occurs between the chip and the grid. The discharge quenching properties of the SiRN layer have been determined as well as the relation on grid capacitance, grid voltage and gas mixture. Part of the detectors in this report were of the type Gossip, a GridPix detector with a drift gap of ∼1 mm. Using such thin drift layer, one may consider this detector as a replacement for a silicon pixel detector. The performance of three Gossip detectors has been investigated by measurements in a test beam at CERN.