F. Pietropaolo

Detection of the primary scintillation light from dense Ar, Kr and Xe with novel photosensitive gaseous detectors

Abstract The detection of primary scintillation light in combination with the charge or secondary scintillation signals is an efficient technique in determining the events “ t =0” as well as particle/photon separation in large mass TPC detectors filled with noble gases and/or condensed noble gases. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that costly photo-multipliers could be replaced by cheap novel photosensitive gaseous detectors: wire counters, GEMs or glass capillary plates coupled with CsI photocathodes. We have performed systematic measurements with Ar, Kr and Xe gases at pressures in the range of 1–50xa0atm as well as some preliminary measurements with liquid Xe and liquid Ar. With the gaseous detectors we have succeeded in detecting a scintillation light produced by 22xa0keV X-rays with an efficiency close to 100%. We also detected the scintillation light produced by β’ s (5xa0keV deposit energy) with an efficiency close to 25%. Successful detection of scintillation from 22xa0keV X-rays open new experimental possibilities not only for nTOF and ICARUS experiments, but also in others, such as WIMPs search through nuclear recoil emission.

Oxygen contamination in liquid Argon: combined effects on ionization electron charge and scintillation light

A dedicated test of the effects of Oxygen contamination in liquid Argon has been performed at the INFN-Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS, Italy) within the WArP R&D program. Two detectors have been used: the WArP2.3 lt prototype and a small (0.7 lt) dedicated detector, coupled with a system for the injection of controlled amounts of gaseous Oxygen. O2 contamination in LAr leads to depletion of both the free electron charge (via attachment process) and the scintillation light (via quenching and absorption mechanisms) available for ionization signal detection. Purpose of the test with the 0.7 lt detector was to detect the reduction of the long-lived component lifetime of the Argon scintillation light emission and of the overall light yield at increasing O2 concentration. Data from the WArP prototype were used for determining the behavior of both the ionization electron lifetime and the scintillation long-lived component lifetime at decreasing O2 concentration by the purification process activated in closed loop during the acquisition run. The electron lifetime measurements allowed to infer the O2 content of the Argon and correlate it with the long-lived scintillation lifetime data. The effects of Oxygen contamination on the scintillation light have been thus extensively measured over a wide range of O2 concentration, spanning from ~ 10−3 ppm up to ~ 10 ppm.

Search for anomalies in the

We report an updated result from the ICARUS experiment on the search for νμ→νe anomalies with the CNGS beam, produced at CERN with an average energy of 20xa0GeV and traveling 730xa0km to the Gran Sasso Laboratory. The present analysis is based on a total sample of 1995 events of CNGS neutrino interactions, which corresponds to an almost doubled sample with respect to the previously published result. Four clear νe events have been visually identified over the full sample, compared with an expectation of 6.4±0.9 events from conventional sources. The result is compatible with the absence of additional anomalous contributions. Atxa090xa0% and 99xa0% confidence levels, the limits to possible oscillated events are 3.7 and 8.3 respectively. The corresponding limit to oscillation probability becomes consequently 3.4×10−3 and 7.6×10−3, respectively. The present result confirms, with an improved sensitivity, the early result already published by the ICARUS Collaboration.

{\nu}_e

The paper summarizes our latest progress in the development of newly introduced micro-pattern gaseous detectors with resistive electrodes. These resistive electrodes protect the detector and the front-end electronics in case of occasional discharges and thus make the detectors very robust and reliable in operation. As an example, we describe in greater detail a recently developed GEM-like detector, fully spark-protected with electrodes made of resistive kapton. We discovered that all resistive layers used in these studies (including kapton) that are coated with photosensitive layers, such as CsI, can be used as efficient photocathodes for detectors operating in a pulse counting mode. There is a description of the first applications of such detectors combined with CsI or SbCs photocathodes for the detection of UV photons at room and cryogenic temperatures.

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We have developed and tested several prototypes of GEM-like detectors with electrodes coated with resistive layers or completely made of resistive materials. These detectors can operate stably at gains close to 105. The resistive layers limit the energy of discharges appearing at higher gains thus making the detectors very robust. We demonstrated that the cathodes of some of these detectors could be coated by CsI or SbCs layers to enhance the detection efficiency for the UV and visible photons. We also discovered that such detectors can operate stably in the cascade mode and high overall gains (~106) are reachable. Applications in several areas, for example in RICH or in noble liquid TPCs are therefore possible. The first results from the detection of UV photons at room and cryogenic temperatures will be given.

{\nu}_{\mu}

Liquified noble gases are widely used as a target in direct Dark Matter searches. Signals from scintillation in the liquid, following energy deposition from the recoil nuclei scattered by Dark Matter particles (e.g. WIMPs), should be recorded down to very low energies by photosensors suitably designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Liquid Argon based detectors for Dark Matter searches currently implement photo multiplier tubes for signal read-out. In the last few years PMTs with photocathodes operating down to liquid Argon temperatures (87 K) have been specially developed with increasing Quantum Efficiency characteristics. The most recent of these, Hamamatsu Photonics Mod. R11065 with peak QE up to about 35%, has been extensively tested within the R&D program of the WArP Collaboration. During these testes the Hamamatsu PMTs showed superb performance and allowed obtaining a light yield around 7 phel/keVee in a Liquid Argon detector with a photocathodic coverage in the 12% range, sufficient for detection of events down to few keVee of energy deposition. This shows that this new type of PMT is suited for experimental applications, in particular for new direct Dark Matter searches with LAr-based experiments.

beam

In some experiments and applications there is need for large-area photosensitive detectors to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Nowadays, vacuum PMs are usually used for this purpose. We have developed special designs of planar photosensitive gaseous detectors able to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Such detectors are much cheaper than PMs and are almost insensitive to magnetic fields. Results of systematic measurements of their quantum efficiencies, the maximum achievable gains and long-term stabilities will be presented. The successful operation of these detectors open realistic possibilities in replacing PMs by photosensitive gaseous detectors in some applications dealing with cryogenic liquids; for example in experiments using noble liquid TPCs or noble liquid scintillating calorimeters.

Development of innovative micro-pattern gaseous detectors with resistive electrodes and first results of their applications

There are several applications and studies in fundamental research, which require the detection of VUV light at cryogenic temperatures. For these applications, we have developed and successfully tested special designs of gaseous detectors with solid photocathodes able to operate at low temperatures: sealed gaseous detectors with MgF2 windows and windowless detectors. We have experimentally demonstrated that both primary and secondary (due to the avalanche multiplication inside liquids) scintillation light can be recorded by photosensitive gaseous detectors. The results of this work may allow one to significantly improve the operation of some noble liquid TPCs.

Development and First Tests of GEM-Like Detectors With Resistive Electrodes

Abstract In order to recover the charge lost by electron-ion recombination, we doped pure liquid argon with a photosensitive hydrocarbon, tetra-methyl-germanium (TMG), in the 3 ton ICARUS TPC. A charge increase of 25% to 220% was observed for different electric fields and for energy densities ranging from 1.6 to 32 MeV/cm.

Demonstration and comparison of photomultiplier tubes at liquid Argon temperature

We have demonstrated that hole-type gaseous detectors, GEMs and capillary plates, can operate up to 77 K. For example, a single capillary plate can operate at gains of above 10/sup 3/ in the entire temperature interval between 300 until 77 K. The same capillary plate combined with CsI photocathodes could operate perfectly well at gains (depending on gas mixtures) of 100-1000. Obtained results may open new fields of applications for capillary plates as detectors of UV light and charge particles at cryogenic temperatures: noble liquid TPCs, WIMP detectors or LXe scintillating calorimeters and cryogenic PETs.