Optimization of the microstrip gas counter

A study has been made to optimize the characteristics of the microstrip gas counter for use as a tracker at the LHC. In this framework we found that two of the most important design parameters of the detector are given by the choice of the counter gas and the width of the gas gap. In this report we deduce, using measurements done with a UV laser and a particle beam, two most suited mixtures which consist of xenon, di-methyl-ether and CO2. We also derive the optimum width of the gas gap. With these results an efficient event tagging will be possible at the LHC bunch frequency. (orig.)