Demonstration of ThGEM-multiwire hybrid charge readout for directional dark matter searches

Sensitivities of current directional dark matter search detectors using gas time projection chambers are now constrained by target mass. A ton-scale gas TPC detector will require large charge readout areas. We present a first demonstration of a novel ThGEM-Multiwire hybrid charge readout technology which combines the robust nature and high gas gain of Thick Gaseous Electron Multipliers with lower capacitive noise of a one-plane multiwire charge readout in S$F_6$ target gas. Measurements performed with this hybrid detector show an ion drift velocity of $138\pm 10$ m s⁻¹ in a reduced drift field $\text{E/N}$ of 93 $\times 10^{-17}$ V cm² with an effective gas gain of $2470\pm 160$ in 20 Torr of pure S$F_{\text{6}}$ target gas.