Abstract. ICARUS is the largest imaging LAr TPC ever operated. During its LNGS run on the CNGS neutrino beam, from 2010 to 2013, produced some thousands neutrino events of unprecedented quality. This was possible thanks its mechanical precision and stability, liquid argon purity and electronics front-end and DAQ. Actually ICARUS T600, in view of its operation at FNAL on the SBN neutrino beam, is undergoing a major overhauling that implies cathode mechanics improvement, additional PMTs installation and a new electronics front-end and DAQ. This electronics implements a new architecture, integrated onto the flange proprietary design, and a new front-end that improves S/N and induction signals treatment. This issue will be presented in detail together with data recently recorder at CERN in the FLIC, 50 litres, LAr facility.
The ICARUS T600 detectorThe Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) is a powerful detection technique that can provide a detailed 3D imaging and a precise calorimetric reconstruction of any ionizing event. The operating principle of this innovative detector, first proposed by C. Rubbia in 1977 [1], is rather simple: the ionization electrons produced by each ionizing event taking place in highly purified LAr can be transported by the uniform electric field and can be detected by the wire planes, placed at the end of the drift path, providing simultaneous different projections of the same event. The information from these three projections allow a precise reconstruction of the recorded particle trajectories and a precise calorimetric measurement. In addition, the scintillation light produced by the crossing particles can be collected by PMTs located behind the wire planes and this signal can be used in particular for the trigger of the detector. This continuously sensitive and self triggering detector is characterized by an high granularity and spatial resolution, similar to bubble chambers. Moreover it is an excellent calorimeter that allows also an efficient particle identification based on the energy deposition vs range measurements. The ICARUS T600, the largest LAr-TPC detector ever built, represents the state of the art of this detection technique. This detector is the result of the combined effort of the ICARUS Collaboration and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare support and its successful operation for 3 years in the Hall B of the Gran Sasso underground National Laboratory demonstrates that the single phase LAr-TPC is the leading technology for the future short and long baseline accelerator driven neutrino physics. The T600 is made by two identical modules, each made of two TPCs sharing a common cathode in the middle. The internal dimensions of each half module are 3.6 × 3.9 × 19.6 m 3 and the a