Detection efficiency of relativistic heavy-ions with resistive-plate chambers

The detection efficiency of relativistic heavy ions with resistive-plate chambers (RPCs) has been investigated. We have used single and double gas-gap RPCs, irradiated with beams of 12C (700 AMeV) and 64Ni (500 AMeV). The detector efficiency and the presence of streamers were investigated for ions with different atomic numbers and different values of the bias voltage in the RPC gap. Our results show the possibility to operate the RPCs with almost full detection efficiency for relativistic heavy ions, while keeping almost negligible the streamers rate.