Progress in developing hybrid RPC: GEM-like detectors with resistive electrodes

We have recently developed an innovative detector of photons and charged particles: a GEM-like gaseous amplification structure with resistive electrodes instead of commonly used metallic ones. This novel detector combines the best property of GEMs—the capability to operate in a cascaded mode and in poorly quenched gases—and of RPC: the protection against sparks. This paper will shortly review our latest achievements in this direction, however the main focus will be given on a new advanced design that allows to build large-area detectors (currently 15×20 cm2) manufactured by a screen printing technology. The proposed detector, depending on the applications, can operate either in a GEM mode (electron multiplications through holes only) or as a hybrid RPC with simultaneous amplifications in the drift region and in the holes. The possible applications of this new detector will be discussed.