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Principles of Particle Energy Determination 679
with the consequence that, in general, the electromagnetic (e) to hadronic (π) signal
ratio e/π 6= 1.
The energy independent equalization between the electromagnetic and the
hadronic signals (e/π = 1, i.e., the compensation condition, see page 675) is the
condition to restore the linear response of the calorimeter to hadronic cascades,
and, as will be discussed in the next section, to obtain an energy resolution that
improves as 1/
√
E, where E is the incoming hadron energy.
Calorimeter compensation physics, see e.g., [Wigmans (1987); Br¨uckmann et
al. (1988)], deals with the flux, the deposition and the fluctuation of the energy
coming from the cascade process. The energy deposition in both passive and ac-
tive samplers mainly occurs via collision losses of i) relativistic hadrons produced
in the interactions on target nuclei, ii) quasi-direct spallation protons coming from
the target nuclei and iii) electrons and positrons generated by the electromagnetic
component of the hadronic cascade. Additionally, prompt gamma radiation may
be emitted from excited fission products, or after particle evaporation from resi-
dual nuclei. Moreover, sources of delayed gamma photons are neutron capture pro-
cesses, when they occur. These photons can subsequently interact via the Compton
or the photoelectric effects and, in turn, generate a fast electron. Neutrons may
transfer part of their energy in neutron–nucleus collisions, particularly on low-A
nuclei. Furthermore, since most of the protons contributing to the hadronic signal
are highly non-relativistic, the saturation properties of the detecting medium for
densely ionizing particles (for instance, the scintillator light output) are of crucial
importance. This effect was intensively investigated, when the first compensation
calorimeters were operated (e.g., see [Brau and Gabriel (1985); HELIOS Collab.
(1987); Wigmans (1987); Br¨uckmann et al. (1988); Brau, Gabriel and Rancoita
(1989)] and references therein).
Various approaches to the realization of the compensation condition exist. One
method mainly depends on the quantity of hydrogen contained in the active
medium, and on the A-value of the passive samplers. The increase of the hadronic
signal, i.e., of the h/mip ratio, can be obtained by detecting part of the energy car-
ried by neutrons, which are generated in the cascade process. In fact, when hydrogen
rich materials (for instance plastic scintillators or scintillating fibers) are employed
as active media, neutron–proton scattering processes generate fast recoiling and
ionizing protons in active samplers (see, e.g., [Fabjan et al. (1977); Abramowicz et
al. (1981); De Vincenzi et al. (1986); Bernardi et al. (1987); HELIOS Collab. (1987);
Drews et al. (1990); Ros (1991)]).
The e/mip ratio can also be tuned by an appropriate choice of both passive
samplers and active media (see Sects. 9.2 and 9.3 and, e.g., [SICAPO Collab. (1990a,
1991b); Byon-Wagner (1992); SICAPO Collab. (1992a); Beretvas et al. (1993)] and
references therein).
In the following, we will call almost compensating calorimeter a calorimeter for
which the measured e/π ratio is ≈ between 0.95 and 1.05, within ≈ 5% experimental