Diagram of the barrel section of the TRT which is
comprised of 96 individual modules, 32 each of three different sizes. Each
module at the smallest radius contains 329 straws, the modules at intermediate
radius, 520 straws, and the modules at the outermost radius, 793 straws.
The wires in the straws are electrically split in the middle so that each
end of the straw is read out separately.
Photograph of one of the barrel modules.
Exploded view of the end of one of the barrel modules
showing, from right to left, the carbon fiber shell, radiator, individual
straws, HV plate, and tension plate on which the wires are terminated.
The electronics is mounted directly on the tension plate.
The anode is brought out on the outer rim of the wheel through a rigid-flex multilayer circuit board called "the Web" which makes connection to the straw (cathode) and the wire (anode) via two separate kapton layers using a novel attachment technique called petals. The HV (cathode) petals are just visible in this photograph as gold plated circles with starred cut outs. The triangular petals are forced into and against the straw wall via a plastic plug to make the cathode connection. A fixing pin serves the same function for the wire.
The drawing below shows the web HV connections (red) and signal connections (blue).
Last Modified - 31 January, 2001 - RVB