TDC Applications

Time of Flight (TOF) Measurement

Charged particle trajectories are often measured in experimental high energy physics using drift chambers. A so called target is hit by a high energy electron beam. This causes the generation of charged particles. These charged particles pass through gas filled tubes. The resulting ionization of the gas within the tubes is collected by wires maintained at a high voltage relative to the conducting-surface of the tube. This generates an electrical pulse on the wire. The time between the hit of the electron beam and the rising edge of the electrical pulse is measured by the TDC. The required resolution is in the range of approx. 500ps – 1ns.