A study of gas mixtures for the ATLAS MDT

Results of a gas study for the ATLAS Monitored Drift Tubes (MDT) are reported. The electron drift velocity, Lorentz angle and tube radius to drift time relations are calculated for selected gas mixtures by using the CERN drift chamber simulation code GARFIELD/MAGBOLTZ. The drift tube efficiency, gas gain, avalanche size and self-quenching streamer (SQS) mode fraction as functions of anode voltage are measured by using radioactive sources. Discussions of the results, including effects of nitrogen and water vapor, are presented.