Most of particle gaseous detectors rely on fluorinated gases with high Global Warming Potential (GWP) for optimal performance. Resistive Plate Counter (RPC) detectors typically use R-134a and SF6, while Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs), such as the μRWELL, employ CF4 for high drift velocity. In response to European regulations and CERN’s objective of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030, this work investigated sustainable gas alternatives through laboratory and test-beam measurements.
For RPCs, a 30% CO2 dilution of R-134a was validated up to 60 mC/cm2 was adopted by ATLAS in 2023. Reclaimed R-134a matched fresh gas within 1% in efficiency despite minor impurities, while R-1233zd successfully reproduced the performance of SF6, making it a promising low-GWP replacement.
For μRWELL detectors, reduced-CF4 mixtures preserved good timing performance, with the 20% CF4 mixture only 1.3 ns slower than the standard mixture. Additional eco-friendly gas mixtures remain under investigation.
To further reduce environmental impact, compact, portable gas recirculation units (μLoops) were developed at a cost below 5000 CHF, over an order of magnitude cheaper than existing LHC-scale systems.Successfully tested with several gaseous detector technologies, including Spark Chambers, MRPCs, and PicoSec, they achieved recirculation fractions up to 90% while maintaining detector performance. Overall, this work demonstrates practical strategies to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of gaseous detectors across high-energy physics and related applications.