Overview of LHCb RICH detector development

For particle identification, LHCb will use two RICH detectors, one covering the charged particle momentum range 1–65 GeV/ c using aerogel and C 4 F 10 radiators and the other covering up to 100 GeV/ c using CF 4 radiator. A Hybrid Photon Detector (HPD) with a 80 mm photocathode diameter has been developed, to detect the Cherenkov photons in the wavelength range 200–600 nm. To shield the HPD arrays from magnetic fields up to 600 Gauss in one detector and 150 Gauss in the other, a shielding system has been designed with Mumetal cylinders enclosing each HPD. The engineering design of both RICH detectors has been completed and the construction and assembly of several components has started. The installation of these detectors in LHCb is expected to be completed in 2006. sign and current status of the LHCb RICH system will be reviewed and the expected performance from realistic simulations will be shown.