Final test of the MRPC production for the ALICE TOF detector

During the autumn of 2006 a final test of a sample of double-stack MRPC (Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber) strips, randomly chosen from two years of mass production (the ALICE Time-Of-Flight detector is made of 1638 strips), was carried out at the CERN Proton Synchrotron facility. The results on the performances of the MRPCs and of the front-end and readout electronics will be presented. It is confirmed that these devices have a very good uniformity of response, a long streamer-free plateau, an efficiency higher than 99% and an “intrinsic” time resolution better than about 40 ps.