Patent ID: 7683335

Claim:
A method of providing nuclear particle identification for e, μ, π, and p of up to about 4 to about 5 GeV/c using an improved Threshold Cerenkov Detector With Radial Segmentation (TCDRS), comprising: A) Allowing particles of e, μ, π, and p to impinge on a plurality of at least three concentrically configured light transmitting radiator tubes; wherein: i) an outer shell of radiator tubes is filled with water and a wavelength shifter to provide a first index of refraction; ii) a middle shell of said radiator tubes is filled with mineral oil to provide a second index of refraction higher than said first index of refraction; and iii) a center shell of said radiator tubes is filled with mineral oil and a wave length shifter to provide a third index of refraction higher than said second index of refraction; B) Obtaining light flashes of materially segmented blue light in a radial direction shifted from ultraviolet Cerenkov light by said wavelength shifter and materially segmented into a plurality of photons by said different indices of refraction in said concentrically configured radiator tubes; and C) Counting particles as an event when a gated impulse is created when at least one of two scintillation counters on top of said detector and at least one of two scintillation counters beneath said detector are struck when a particle traverses the detector volume to create a blue photon that is multiplied by an attached photomultiplier tube.