Pressure stabilized straw tube modules for the PANDA Forward Tracker

The design of straw tube detector modules developed for the PANDA Forward Tracker is presented. One module consists of 32 straws with 10 mm diameter, arranged in two staggered layers, and has a very low material budget of only 8.8.10(-4 )X(0). The overpressure of the working gas mixture of 1 bar makes the module self-supporting and enables the use of lightweight and compact support frames. Detection planes in the Forward Tracker consist of modules mounted closely, without gaps, next to each other on a support frame. A module can be mounted and dismounted from the frame without the need to remove the neighboring modules, enabling fast repairs. Technical details of the detector design and the assembly procedure of the straw tubes and the straw modules as well as results of performed tests of the modules are given.