The development and use of the ring imaging Cherenkov (RICH) technique

This paper reviews the development of the experimental method of Cherenkov ring imaging in High Energy Physics. In particular is described the advent and evolution of different detector-geometry schemes and of different Cherenkov single-proton detection-techniques. The various experiments containing RICH counters, both at fixed target machines and at colliders, are discussed and compared with regard to design-concepts, resolution, efficiency and reliability of the RICH-counters as well as to significance to physics aims and results of the experiments. Recent developments of the technique, aiming at applications at the future high-luminosity hadron colliders, are out-lined