Scintillating fiber tracking techniques

Scintillating fiber detectors represent a particularly elegant solution to SSC tracking problems. Capable of being drawn into waveguides of very small cross section and long axial length, these detectors hold promise for providing high resolution tracking information in large volume detectors as well as microvertex devices. The resurgence of enthusiasm for scintillation imaging, after two decades of malaise, has been kindled by the successful development of new scintillation glasses and plastics which can be clad and drawn into functional waveguides, as well as developments in image intensification and electronic imaging systems. Tracks and interactions have been recorded successfully and with good efficiency in 25 μm glass fibers of ≤ 2cm length, in 1mm plastic fibers of >1m length, and in multifiber bundles of 100 μm fibers of ≤ 30cm length, making these detectors potential competitors with silicon microstrips, CCDs and drift chambers. However, to realize a useful detector based upon scintillating fiber materials will necessitate further R and D. It is the purpose of this paper to indicate the current status of the field and to suggest avenues for further work