Picosecond timing of charged particles using the TORCH detector

TORCH is a large-area, high-precision time-of-flight (ToF) detector designed to provide charged-particle identification in the 2-20 GeV$/c$ momentum range. Prompt Cherenkov photons emitted by charged hadrons as they traverse a 10mm quartz radiator are propagated to the periphery of the detector, where they are focused onto an array of micro-channel plate photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMTs). The position and arrival times of the photons are used to infer the particles' time of entry in the radiator, to identify hadrons based on their ToF. The MCP-PMTs were developed with an industrial partner to satisfy the stringent requirements of the TORCH detector. The requirements include a finely segmented anode, excellent time resolution, and a long lifetime. Over an approximately 10m flight distance, the difference in ToF between a kaon and a pion with 10GeV$/c$ momentum is 35ps, leading to a 10-15ps per track timing resolution requirement. On average 30 photons per hadron are detected, which translates to a single-photon time resolution of 70ps. The TORCH research and development program aims to demonstrate the validity of the detector concept through laboratory and beam tests, results from which are presented. A timing resolution of 70-100ps was reached in beam tests, approaching the TORCH design goal. Laboratory timing tests consist of operating the MCP-PMTs coupled to the TORCH readout electronics. A time resolution of about 50ps was measured, meeting the TORCH target timing resolution.