Experimental study of uranium plastic scintillator calorimeters

As preparation for the ZEUS high resolution calorimeter, sampling calorimeters made from 3.2 mm plates of depleted uranium read out by plastic scintillator of 3 mm and 5 mm thickness have been built. The response of hadrons, electrons and muons has been measured in the energy range between 3 and 100 GeV. In agreement with predictions, the relative response of electrons and hadrons as well as the hadronic energy resolution depend strongly on the thickness of the plastic scintillator. For 3.2 mm depleted uranium and 3 mm thick scintillator we observe over the full energy range equal response for electrons and hadrons; a hadronic energy resolution of 34.5%/√E[GeV] is obtained. Results are given for the spatial resolution for electrons and hadrons. Finally results from a lead scintillator calorimeter built as a prestudy before uranium plates were available are reported. 12 refs.; 9 figs.; 6 tabs