The Hall A Vertical Drift Chambers
The Hall A Collaboration Six VDCs (one prototype, one spare, and four production) were constructed by the Nuclear Interactions Group at MITLNS in conjunction with Jefferson Laboratory to form the core of the detector packages in the Hall A High Resolution Spectrometers. These wire chambers have performed reliably in around-the-clock service since early 1997. Construction of a second spare VDC has been approved and the parts ordered. Together with the first spare VDC, an entire reserve tracking cartridge shall be constructed, with the goal being a 24-hour turnaround in the event of a catastrophic failure.