A hadron blind detector for the PHENIX experiment at RHIC

A Hadron Blind Detector (HBD) is being developed for the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. It consists of a Cherenkov radiator operated with pure CF4 directly coupled in a windowless configuration to a triple-GEM detector element with a CsI photocathode and pad readout. The HBD operates in the bandwidth 6-11.5 eV (110-200 nm). We studied the detector response to minimum ionizing particles and to electrons. We present measurements of the CsI quantum efficiency, which are in very good agreement with previously published results over the bandwidth 6-8.3 eV and extend them up to 10.3 eV. Discharge probability and aging studies of the GEMs and the CsI photocathode in pure CF4 are presented.