Inexpensive large area counters using multi-wire proportional chambers

Abstract Multi-wire proportional chambers are used as a replacement for conventional large area plastic scintillators. For applications which can tolerate larger time jitters than are obtained from scintillators, the proportional chamber is less expensive and more flexible, particularly in magnetic fields. A technique is described which permits inexpensive mechanical construction by means of lamination of frames from thin sheets. This method of frame construction should be useful for spark chamber frames as well as proportional chambers because it provides rigid, flat frames with no machining.