New generation GridPix Development and characterisation of pixelated gaseous detectors based on the Timepix3 chip

Due to the increasing demands of high energy physics experiments there is a need for particle detectors which enable high precision measurements. In this regard, the GridPix detector is a novel detector concept which combines the benefits of a pixel chip with an integrated gas amplification structure. The resulting unit is a detector sensitive to single electrons with a great potential for particle tracking and energy loss measurements. This thesis is focusing on the development of a new generation of GridPix detectors based on the Timepix3 chip, which implements a high resolution Time to Digital Converter (TDC) in each pixel. After an introductory chapter describing the motivation behind GridPix, the manuscript presents the physics of gaseous detectors in chapter 2 along with the gaseous detectors used for particle tracking in chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 are focusing on the tracking performance of GridPix detectors. Chapter 4 presents results obtained with a GridPix detector based on a small scale prototype chip that was designed towards the development of the Timepix3. Chapter 5 presents the result obtained using a detector based on a full size Timepix3 chip. Finally, chapter 6 concerns the reliability of the detector and presents results obtained with dummy and real Timepix3 chips from measurements performed in harsh radiation environments.