Garfield++ simulation of a TH-GEM based detector for standard mammography beam dosimetry

Abstract

The TH-GEM based detector is a robust, simple to manufacture, high-gain gaseous electron multiplier. Its operation is based on a standard printed circuit board (PCB) coated on both sides by metallic material, perforated in a millimeter pattern, and immersed in gas. In order to study the feasibility of using TH-GEM type detectors in dosimetric applications for standard mammography beams, a prototype with adequate dimensions and materials was produced. The present work encompasses the calculations of electric fields by the Gmsh and Elmer software packages and the avalanche simulation using Garfield++ library of a TH-GEM detector filled with Ar/CO2 mixture at atmospheric pressure.