Argon gas doped with 1% wavelength-shifter (CF4) has been employed in an optical time projection chamber (OTPC) to image cosmic radiation. We present results obtained during the system commissioning, ...performed with two stacked glass thick gaseous electron multipliers (THGEMs) and an electron-multiplying charge coupled device (EMCCD camera) at 1 bar. Preliminary estimates indicate that the combined optical gain was of the order of 106 (ph/e), producing sharp and high-contrast raw images without resorting to any filtering or post-processing. A first assessment of the impact of pressurization showed no change in the attainable gains when operating at 1.5 bar.
The ARIADNE project is developing innovative optical readout technologies for two-phase liquid Argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). Optical readout presents an exciting alternative to the ...current paradigm of charge readout. Optical readout is simple, scalable and cost effective. This paper presents first demonstration of 3D optical readout of TPC, using CF4 gas as a proof of principle. Both cosmic rays and an Americium-241 alpha source have been imaged in 100 mbar CF4. A single-photon sensitive camera was developed by combining a Timepix3 (TPX3) based camera with an image intensifier. When a pixel of TPX3 is hit, a packet containing all information about the hit is produced. This packet contains the x,y coordinates of the pixel, time of arrival (ToA) and time over threshold (ToT) information. The z position of the hit in the TPC is determined by combining drift velocity with ToA information. 3D event reconstruction is performed by combining the pixel's x,y location with this calculated z position. Calorimetry is performed using time over threshold, a measure of the intensity of the hit.
This paper describes a new method for optical readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs), based on the Linearly Graded Silicon Photomultiplier (LG-SiPM). This is a single photon-sensitive detector ...with excellent timing and 2D position resolution developed at Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento (FBK). The LG-SiPM produces time-varying voltage signals that are used to reconstruct the 3D position and energy of ionisation tracks generated inside the TPC. The TPC used in this work contained room-temperature CF4 gas at a pressure of 100 mbar, with two THGEMs to produce secondary scintillation light. A collimated 241Am source (Qα=5.486 MeV) was used to produce the ionisation tracks. The successful reconstruction of these tracks is demonstrated, and the consistency of the methodology characterised through varying the geometry of the tracks within the TPC. Energy reconstruction and deposition studies are also described, demonstrating the feasibility of the LG-SiPM as a potential option for optical TPC readout.
ARIADNE is a 1-ton (330 kg fiducial mass) dual-phase liquid argon (LAr) time projection chamber (TPC) featuring a novel optical readout. Four electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) ...cameras are mounted externally, and these capture the secondary scintillation light produced in the holes of a thick electron gas multiplier (THGEM) . Track reconstruction using this novel readout approach is demonstrated. Optical readout has the potential to be a cost effective alternative to charge readout in future LArTPCs. In this paper, the technical design of the detector is detailed. Results of mixed particle detection using a secondary beam from the CERN PS (representing the first ever optical images of argon interactions in a dual-phase LArTPC at a beamline) and cosmic muon detection at the University of Liverpool are also presented.
We describe the first demonstration of a sub-keV electron recoil energy threshold in a dual-phase liquid argon time projection chamber. This is an important step in an effort to develop a detector ...capable of identifying the ionization signal resulting from nuclear recoils with energies of order a few keV and below. We obtained this result by observing the peaks in the energy spectrum at 2.82keV and 0.27keV, following the K- and L-shell electron capture decay of 37Ar respectively. The 37Ar source preparation is described in detail, since it enables calibration that may also prove useful in dark matter direct detection experiments. An internally placed 55Fe x-ray source simultaneously provided another calibration point at 5.9keV. We discuss the ionization yield and electron recombination in liquid argon at those three calibration energies.
•We measure sub-keV electron recoils in a dual-phase argon time projection chamber.•Ar-37 is produced via neutron irradiation and used as calibration source.•Ar-37 electron captures at 2.82 and 0.27keV are measured together with Fe-55 x-rays.•Spurious single ionization electrons provided absolute calibration of charge signal.•Modified Thomas–Imel model describes low-energy electron-recoils in liquid Ar.
This paper presents a preliminary study into the use of CCDs to image secondary scintillation light generated by THick Gas Electron Multipliers (THGEMs) in a two phase LAr TPC. A Sony ICX285AL CCD ...chip was mounted above a double THGEM in the gas phase of a 40 litre two-phase LAr TPC with the majority of the camera electronics positioned externally via a feedthrough. An Am-241 source was mounted on a rotatable motion feedthrough allowing the positioning of the alpha source either inside or outside of the field cage. Developed for and incorporated into the TPC design was a novel high voltage feedthrough featuring LAr insulation. Furthermore, a range of webcams were tested for operation in cryogenics as an internal detector monitoring tool. Of the range of webcams tested the Microsoft HD-3000 (model no: 1456) webcam was found to be superior in terms of noise and lowest operating temperature. In ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure 1 ppm pure argon gas, the THGEM gain was approximately 1000 and using a 1 msec exposure the CCD captured single alpha tracks. Successful operation of the CCD camera in two-phase cryogenic mode was also achieved. Using a 10 sec exposure a photograph of secondary scintillation light induced by the Am-241 source in LAr has been captured for the first time.
Future giant liquid argon (LAr) time projection chambers (TPCs) require a purity of better than 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) to allow the ionised electrons to drift without significant capture by any ...electronegative impurities. We present a comprehensive study of the effects of electronegative impurity on gaseous and liquid argon scintillation light, an analysis of the efficiency of various purification chemicals, as well as the Liverpool LAr setup, which utilises a novel re-circulation purification system. Of the impurities tested - Air, O sub(2), H sub(2)O, N sub(2) and CO sub(2) in the range of between 0.01 ppm to 1000 ppm - H sub(2)O was found to have the most profound effect on gaseous argon scintillation light, and N sub(2) was found to have the least. Additionally, a correlation between the slow component decay time and the total energy deposited with 0.01 ppm - 100 ppm O sub(2) contamination levels in liquid argon has been established. The superiority of molecular sieves over anhydrous complexes at absorbing Ar gas, N sub(2) gas and H sub(2)O vapour has been quantified using BET isotherm analysis. The efficiency of Cu and P sub(2)O sub(5) at removing O sub(2) and H sub(2)O impurities from 1 bar N6 argon gas at both room temperature and -130 degree C was investigated and found to be high. A novel, highly scalable LAr re-circulation system has been developed. The complete system, consisting of a motorised bellows pump operating in liquid and a purification cartridge, were designed and built in-house. The system was operated successfully over many days and achieved a re-circulation rate of 27 litres/hour and high purity.
The Argon Dark Matter (ArDM-1t) experiment is a ton-scale liquid argon (LAr) double-phase time projection chamber designed for direct Dark Matter searches. Such a device allows to explore the low ...energy frontier in LAr with a charge imaging detector. The ionization charge is extracted from the liquid into the gas phase and there amplified by the use of a Large Electron Multiplier in order to reduce the detection threshold. Direct detection of the ionization charge with fine spatial granularity, combined with a measurement of the amplitude and time evolution of the associated primary scintillation light, provide powerful tools for the identification of WIMP interactions against the background due to electrons, photons and possibly neutrons if scattering more than once. A one ton LAr detector is presently installed on surface at CERN to fully test all functionalities and it will be soon moved to an underground location. We will emphasize here the lessons learned from such a device for the design of a large LAr TPC for neutrino oscillation, proton decay and astrophysical neutrinos searches.
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