Investigation of electrical properties of a 120 cm PSC using an inner spark pulser

Characteristics of fast pulse propagation in a large planar spark counter (PSC) are simulated using a pulser located inside the spark gap. Besides the main mode of pulse propagation, three undesirable modes are observed. These latter strongly distort the shape of the pulse. Characteristics of these modes and methods to eliminate their effects are demonstrated. We present an electrical design for a 120 cm spark counter along with some of its electrical properties as revealed by measurements made with the inner spark pulser. In the present counter design the charge of a pulse is shared by several neighboring strips, enabling one to measure the transverse position of a spark to a high degree of accuracy.