A microstrip gas chamber as a VUV photosensor for a xenon gas proportional scintillation counter

The characteristics of a one-atmosphere xenon gas proportional scintillation counter (GPSC) instrumented with a novel photosensor are reported. A microstrip gas chamber (MSGC) with a CsI photocathode deposited directly onto its electrode surface is used in place of the standard photomultiplier tube assembly to record the scintillation light from xenon. The microstrip electrodes also function as the GPSC second scintillation grid. The combination results in a simple and compact device that demonstrates the linear response characteristics of the scintillation process in xenon.