A 4 tonne demonstrator for large-scale dual-phase liquid argon time projection chambers

The ARIADNE Experiment, utilising a 1-ton dual-phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC), aims to develop and mature optical readout technology for large scale LAr detectors. This paper describes the characterisation, using cosmic muons, of a Timepix3-based camera mounted on the ARIADNE detector. The raw data from the camera are natively 3D and zero suppressed, allowing for straightforward event reconstruction, and a gallery of reconstructed LAr interaction events is presented. Taking advantage of the 1.6 ns time resolution of the readout, the drift velocity of the ionised electrons in LAr was determined to be 1.608 ± 0.005 mm/μs at 0.54 kV/cm. Energy calibration and resolution were determined using through-going muons. The energy resolution was found to be approximately 11% for the presented dataset. A preliminary study of the energy deposition (dEdX) as a function of distance has also been performed for two stopping muon events, and comparison to GEANT4 simulation shows good agreement. The results presented demonstrate the capabilities of this technology, and its application is discussed in the context of the future kiloton-scale dual-phase LAr detectors that will be used in the DUNE programme.

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First Demonstration of a Pixelated Charge Readout for Single-Phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

Instruments ◽

10.3390/instruments4010009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jonathan Asaadi ◽

Martin Auger ◽

Antonio Ereditato ◽

Damian Goeldi ◽

Umut Kose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Phase ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Track Reconstruction ◽

3D Tracking ◽

3D Space ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Event Reconstruction ◽

Phase Liquid ◽

Time Projection

Traditional charge readout technologies of single-phase Liquid Argon Time projection Chambers (LArTPCs) based on projective wire readout introduce intrinsic ambiguities in event reconstruction. Combined with the slow response inherent in LArTPC detectors, reconstruction ambiguities have limited their performance, until now. Here, we present a proof of principle of a pixelated charge readout that enables the full 3D tracking capabilities of LArTPCs. We characterize the signal-to-noise ratio of charge readout chain to be about 14, and demonstrate track reconstruction on 3D space points produced by the pixel readout. This pixelated charge readout makes LArTPCs a viable option for high-multiplicity environments.

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Neural-network-driven proton decay sensitivity in the p → $$ \overline{\nu} $$K+ channel using large liquid argon time projection chambers

Journal of High Energy Physics ◽

10.1007/jhep04(2021)243 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (4) ◽

Author(s):

C. Alt ◽

B. Radics ◽

A. Rubbia

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Proton Decay ◽

K Channel ◽

Detector Response ◽

Event Generator ◽

Decay Modes ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Phase Liquid ◽

Time Projection

Abstract We report on an updated sensitivity for proton decay via p → $$ \overline{\nu} $$ ν ¯ K+ at large, dual phase liquid argon time projection chambers (LAr TPCs). Our work builds on a previous study in which several nucleon decay modes have been simulated and analyzed [1]. At the time several assumptions were needed to be made on the detector and the backgrounds. Since then, the community has made progress in defining these, and the computing power available enables us to fully simulate and reconstruct large samples in order to perform a better estimate of the sensitivity to proton decay. In this work, we examine the benchmark channel p → $$ \overline{\nu} $$ ν ¯ K+, which was previously found to be one of the cleanest channels. Using an improved neutrino event generator and a fully simulated LAr TPC detector response combined with a dedicated neural network for kaon identification, we demonstrate that a lifetime sensitivity of τ /Br (p → $$ \overline{\nu} $$ ν ¯ K+) > 7 × 1034 years at 90% confidence level can be reached at an exposure of 1 megaton · year in quasi-background-free conditions, confirming the superiority of the LAr TPC over other technologies to address the challenging proton decay modes.

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Performance study of a 3×1×1 m3 dual phase liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber exposed to cosmic rays

Journal of Instrumentation ◽

10.1088/1748-0221/16/08/p08063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (08) ◽

pp. P08063

Author(s):

B. Aimard ◽

L. Aizawa ◽

C. Alt ◽

J. Asaadi ◽

M. Auger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cosmic Rays ◽

Time Projection Chamber ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Dual Phase ◽

Performance Study ◽

Phase Liquid ◽

Time Projection

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Recoil Directionality Experiment

EPJ Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/epjconf/201920901031 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 209 ◽

pp. 01031

Author(s):

S. Sanfilippo ◽

P. Agnes ◽

M. Arba ◽

M. Ave ◽

E. Baracchini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Current Status ◽

Directional Sensitivity ◽

Dual Phase ◽

Test Beam ◽

Nuclear Recoils ◽

Phase Liquid ◽

Frame Work ◽

Time Projection

Directional sensitivity to nuclear recoils could provide a smoking gun for a possible discovery of dark matter in the form of WIMPs. A hint of directional dependence of the response of a dual-phase liquid argon Time Projection Chamber was found in the SCENE experiment. Given the potential importance of such a capability in the frame work of dark matter searches, a new dedicated experiment, ReD (Recoil Directionality), was designed in the framework of the DarkSide Collaboration, in order to scrutinize this hint. This contribution will describe the performance of the detectors achieved during the first test-beam, the current status of ReD and the perspectives for physics measurements during the forthcoming beam-time.

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Correlated single- and few-electron backgrounds milliseconds after interactions in dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chambers

Journal of Instrumentation ◽

10.1088/1748-0221/16/07/p07014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (07) ◽

pp. P07014

Author(s):

A. Kopec ◽

A.L. Baxter ◽

M. Clark ◽

R.F. Lang ◽

S. Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dual Phase ◽

Liquid Xenon ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Phase Liquid ◽

Time Projection

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A large scale purification system for a liquid argon time projection chamber

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment ◽

10.1016/0168-9002(87)90053-2 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 258 (2) ◽

pp. 170-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Peter J. Doe ◽

Richard C. Allen ◽

Steven D. Biller ◽

Gerhard Bühler ◽

Wayne A. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Projection Chamber ◽

Large Scale ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Purification System ◽

Time Projection

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Predicting transport effects of scintillation light signals in large-scale liquid argon detectors

The European Physical Journal C ◽

10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09119-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Diego Garcia-Gamez ◽

Patrick Green ◽

Andrzej M. Szelc

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Light Propagation ◽

Liquid Argon ◽

Equivalent Model ◽

Neutrino Beam ◽

Scintillation Light ◽

Arrival Times ◽

Light Detector ◽

Transport Effects ◽

Time Projection

AbstractLiquid argon is being employed as a detector medium in neutrino physics and Dark Matter searches. A recent push to expand the applications of scintillation light in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber neutrino detectors has necessitated the development of advanced methods of simulating this light. The presently available methods tend to be prohibitively slow or imprecise due to the combination of detector size and the amount of energy deposited by neutrino beam interactions. In this work we present a semi-analytical model to predict the quantity of argon scintillation light observed by a light detector with a precision better than $$10\%$$ 10 % , based only on the relative positions between the scintillation and light detector. We also provide a method to predict the distribution of arrival times of these photons accounting for propagation effects. Additionally, we present an equivalent model to predict the number of photons and their arrival times in the case of a wavelength-shifting, highly-reflective layer being present on the detector cathode. Our proposed method can be used to simulate light propagation in large-scale liquid argon detectors such as DUNE or SBND, and could also be applied to other detector mediums such as liquid xenon or xenon-doped liquid argon.

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