Latest results on the performance of the multigap resistive plate chamber used for the ALICE TOF

Abstract For the identification of particles in the momentum range 0.5– 2.5 GeV / c , the ALICE experiment uses a Time Of Flight array consisting of Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC) in the form of long strips. The design of the detector elements is as follows : double stack MRPCs with glass resistive plates and 5 gas gaps of 250 μ m per stack. The latest results on the performance of these MRPCs are presented. Typical values of time resolution σ are better than 50 ps, with an efficiency of 99.9 % and a long, more than 1.5 kV, streamer-free plateau.