The design and construction of the CDF central drift tube array

The central drift tube (CDT) array is one of the charged particle tracking systems for the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). The CDT array, which operates in the limited streamer mode, provides high-accuracy r-φ-z information at a radius of 1.4 m for tracking charged particles produced in the central region (pseudorapidity range -1 < η < 1) of √s = 1.8 TeV anti pp collisions. Tracking of charged particles in the r-z view of the CDT array is accomplished via charge division along the anode wires; drift-time measurements in three layers of the CDT array provide tracking information in the r-φ view. A novel design enabling rigid and precise mechanical support of 2016 3 m long, 12.7 mm diameter ultra-thin walled stainless steel drift tubes has been implemented for the CDF central drift tube array. Details of the mechanical design and fabrication of the CDF central drift tube array are described. Some preliminary performance results of the operation of the CDT array obtained from √s = 1.8 TeV anti pp collisions are also discussed. (orig.)