The amount of energy released by a nuclear recoil ionizing the atoms of the active volume of detection appears “quenched” compared to an electron of the same kinetic energy. This different behavior ...in ionization between electrons and nuclei is described by the Ionization Quenching Factor (IQF) and it plays a crucial role in direct dark matter searches. For low kinetic energies (below
50
keV
), IQF measurements deviate significantly from common models used for theoretical predictions and simulations. We report measurements of the IQF for proton, an appropriate target for searches of Dark Matter candidates with a mass of approximately
1
GeV
, with kinetic energies in between
2
keV
and
13
keV
in
100
mbar
of methane. We used the Comimac facility in order to produce the motion of nuclei and electrons of controlled kinetic energy in the active volume, and a NEWS-G SPC to measure the deposited energy. The Comimac electrons are used as a reference to calibrate the detector with 7 energy points. A detailed study of systematic effects led to the final results well fitted by
IQF
(
E
K
)
=
E
K
α
/
(
β
+
E
K
α
)
with
α
=
0.70
±
0.08
and
β
=
1.32
±
0.17
. In agreement with some previous works in other gas mixtures, we measured less ionization energy than predicted from SRIM simulations, the difference reaching
33
%
at
2
keV
.
Abstract
The experimental requirements in current and near-future accelerators and experiments have stimulated intense interest in R&D of detectors with high precision timing capabilities, resulting ...in novel instrumentation. During the R&D phase, the timing information is usually extracted from the signal using the full waveform collected with fast oscilloscopes; this method produces a large amount of data and it becomes impractical when the detector has many channels. Towards practical applications, the data acquisition should be undertaken by dedicated front-end electronic units. The selected technology should retain the signal timing characteristics and consequently the timing resolution on the particle’s arrival time. We investigate the adequacy of the Leading-edge discrimination timing technique to achieve timing with a precision in the order of tens of picosecond with novel gaseous detectors. The method under investigation introduces a “time-walk” which impinges on the timing resolution. We mitigate the effect of time-walk using three different approaches; the first based on multiple Time-over-Threshold, the second based on multiple Charge-over-Threshold information and the third uses artificial Neural Network techniques. The results of this study prove the feasibility of the methods and their ability to achieve a timing resolution comparable to that obtained using the full waveforms.
Timing performance of a Micro-Channel-Plate Photomultiplier Tube Bortfeldt, J.; Brunbauer, F.; David, C. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
04/2020, Letnik:
960, Številka:
C
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The spatial dependence of the timing performance of the R3809U-50 Micro-Channel-Plate PMT (MCP-PMT) by Hamamatsu was studied in high energy muon beams. Particle position information is provided by a ...GEM tracker telescope, while timing is measured relative to a second MCP-PMT, identical in construction. In the inner part of the circular active area (radius r<5.5 mm) the time resolution of the two MCP-PMTs combined is better than 10 ps. The signal amplitude decreases in the outer region due to less light reaching the photocathode, resulting in a worse time resolution. The observed radial dependence is in quantitative agreement with a dedicated simulation. With this characterization, the suitability of MCP-PMTs as t0 reference detectors has been validated.
Timing performance of a multi-pad PICOSEC-Micromegas detector prototype Aune, S.; Bortfeldt, J.; Brunbauer, F. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
03/2021, Letnik:
993, Številka:
C
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The multi-pad PICOSEC-Micromegas is an improved detector prototype with a segmented anode, consisting of 19 hexagonal pads. Detailed studies are performed with data collected in a muon beam over four ...representative pads. We demonstrate that such a device, scalable to a larger area, provides excellent time resolution and detection efficiency. As expected from earlier single-cell device studies, we measure a time resolution of approximately 25 picoseconds for charged particles hitting near the anode pad centres, and up to 30 picoseconds at the pad edges. Here, we study in detail the effect of drift gap thickness non-uniformity on the timing performance and evaluate impact position based corrections to obtain a uniform timing response over the full detector coverage.
Abstract
The Astroneu cosmic ray telescope is a small scale hybrid array consisting of both scintillator counters and electromagnetic radiation detectors in the radio-wave frequency (RF) band ...(antennas). Astroneu was installed and operated in the area of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) campus near the city of Patras in Greece. In the present development phase, the Astroneu telescope includes two stations consisting of 3 scintillation detectors modules (SDM) and one RF antenna while a third station includes 3 particle detectors and 4 RF antennas (3SDM-4RF). In this context we present the resent results from both the 3SDM-4RF autonomous station and simulations related to the estimation of the direction of the electric field emitted during the air shower development. The electric field measured in the ground level is the superposition of the two dominant emission mechanism, the time depended transverse current induced by the geomagnetic field and the net negative charge variation at the shower front. Since the electric field emitted by the two contributions is polarized in different directions the measured electric field in the ground encloses information about the charge-excess to geomagnetic ratio (CGR). Furthermore the orientation of the electric field emitted by charge-excess mechanism is strongly depends from the distance to the shower core (the intersection of the shower axis with the ground level). In this study we use the core information as reconstructed using the radio data and simulations. The estimated charge-excess to geomagnetic ratio is in agreement with previous studies which reveals that the shower core reconstruction method is efficient. Finally we report on that CGR measurements can be used for an efficient noise rejection in a future self trigger mode
The PICOSEC Micromegas detector can time the arrival of Minimum Ionizing Particles with a sub-25 ps precision. A very good timing resolution in detecting single photons is also demonstrated in laser ...beams. The PICOSEC timing resolution is determined mainly by the drift field. The arrival time of the signal and the timing resolution vary with the size of the pulse amplitude.
Detailed simulations based on GARFIELD++ reproduce the experimental PICOSEC timing characteristics. This agreement is exploited to identify the microscopic physical variables, which determine the observed timing properties. In these studies, several counter-intuitive observations are made for the behavior of such microscopic variables. In order to gain insight on the main physical mechanisms causing the observed behavior, a phenomenological model is constructed and presented. The model is based on a simple mechanism of “time-gain per interaction” and it employs a statistical description of the avalanche evolution. It describes quantitatively the dynamical and statistical properties of the microscopic quantities, which determine the PICOSEC timing characteristics, in excellent agreement with the simulations. In parallel, it offers phenomenological explanations for the behavior of these microscopic variables. The formulae expressing this model can be used as a tool for fast and reliable predictions, provided that the input parameter values (e.g. drift velocities) are known for the considered operating conditions.
Abstract
The Astroneu cosmic ray telescope is a distributed hybrid array consisting of both scintillator counters and RF antenna detectors used for the detection of extensive air showers (EAS). The ...array is deployed at the Hellenic Open University campus, on the outskirts of the urban area of Patras in Greece. In the present development phase, the Astroneu telescope includes two stations consisting of 3 scintillation detectors modules (SDM) and one RF antenna while a third station includes 3 particle detectors and 4 RF antennas (3SDM-4RF). In each station, the RF-detectors are operating receiving a common trigger upon a 3-fold coincidence between the particle detectors of the station. In this study we present recent results from the 3SDM-4RF autonomous station related to the estimation of the direction of the incoming cosmic air shower using only the timing information from the 4 RF detectors. The directions of the reconstructed showers using the RF timing are in agreement with the corresponding results using the SDMs timing as well as with the simulation predictions. This verifies that the RF signal emitted from EAS originating form Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR), can be detected even in areas with strong electromagnetic background.
Precise in-situ measurements of the neutron flux in underground laboratories is crucial for direct dark matter searches, as neutron induced backgrounds can mimic the typical dark matter signal. The ...development of a novel neutron spectroscopy technique using Spherical Proportional Counters is investigated. The detector is operated with nitrogen and is sensitive to both fast and thermal neutrons through the
14
N(n,
α
)
11
B and
14
N(n, p)
14
C reactions. This method holds potential to be a safe, inexpensive, effective, and reliable alternative to
3
He-based detectors. Measurements of fast and thermal neutrons from an Am-Be source with a Spherical Proportional Counter operated at pressures up to 2 bar at Birmingham are discussed.
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