A focussing disc DIRC for PANDA

The PANDA experiment at the FAIR upgrade to GSI, Darmstadt, aims to study modern hadronic physics with unprecedented precision. Excellent particle identification of both charged and neutral particles is necessary to achieve the physics aims of PANDA. Two DIRC detectors are foreseen for charged particle identification, one in a barrel configuration for the central region, and the second in a disc configuration for the forward endcap. The design of the forward disc DIRC centres around the novel application of passive chromatic dispersion correction elements, allied with focussing optics, to achieve excellent resolution of Chernekov angle. A system of comprehensive prototype development will show the feasibility of the system. Key to the success of the prototype is fully understanding the production, transport and detection of the Cherenkov photons within the detector. Photon yield and its dependence on the polar angle of the detector have been measured. Observed photon yield is also the basis for subsequent studies into the benefit of chromatic dispersion correction elements, focussing and overall detector performance.