  Beam studies of thin single- and double-stage THGEM-based detectors are
presented. Several 10 x 10 cm^2 configurations with a total thickness of 5-6 mm
(excluding readout electronics), with 1 x 1 cm^2 pads inductively coupled
through a resistive layer to APV-SRS readout electronics, were investigated
with muons and pions. Detection efficiencies in the 98% range were recorded
with an average pad-multiplicity of ~1.1. The resistive anode resulted in
efficient discharge damping, with few-volt potential drops; discharge
probabilities were ~10^{-7} for muons and 10^{-6} for pions in the double-stage
configuration, at rates of a few kHz/cm^2. These results, together with the
robustness of THGEM electrodes against spark damage and their suitability for
economic production over large areas make THGEM-based detectors highly
competitive compared to the other technologies considered for the SiD-DHCAL.
