Performance testing of drift chambers by means of pulse x radiation

Testig results for a big drift chamber tested by means of a pulse x-ray source are given. It is found that the efficiency plateau of x-ray detection (350-400 V) is greater than that for relativistic charged particles (150-200 V). Drift time distributions in a chamber filled with the Ar+6% CO2 mixture are determined for two source positions and several values of electric field strength in a drift gap. Deviations from linearity for the deaendence of beam coordinate on drift time, as well as transverse dimensions of areas of electron collection on a signal wire and their dependence on x-ray source coordinates are given. It is shown that the pulse x-ray source permits to determine performances of a drift chamber with a big drift gap and find uniformity disturbances in the electric field distribution inside the chamber