The AHCAL test beam analysis: Positron and hadron studies

The CALICE collaboration has constructed a hadronic sandwich calorimeter prototype with 7608 scintillating plates, individually read out by multi-pixel silicon photomulti-pliers (SiPMs). For the first time ever the readout is performed using SiPMs on a large scale. Results of test beam operations with muon, positron and hadron beams at CERN are presented here, validating the feasibility of the novel SiPM technology. The detector calibration is presented, as well as preliminary results on the application of software compensation for the measurement of the energy resolution. The analysis of hadron shower development in the calorimeter using both data and Monte Carlo simulations is reviewed.