scholarly journals Scintillation and optical properties of xenon-doped liquid argon

2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. C01031
Author(s):  
C. Vogl ◽  
M. Schwarz ◽  
X. Stribl ◽  
J. Grießing ◽  
P. Krause ◽  
...  

Abstract Liquid argon (LAr) is a common choice as detection medium in particle physics and rare-event searches. Challenges of LAr scintillation light detection include its short emission wavelength, long scintillation time and short attenuation length. The addition of small amounts of xenon to LAr is known to improve the scintillation and optical properties. We present a characterization campaign on xenon-doped liquid argon (XeDLAr) with target xenon concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 ppm by mass encompassing the measurement of the photoelectron yield Y, effective triplet lifetime τ 3 and effective attenuation length λ att. The measurements were conducted in the Subterranean Cryogenic ARgon Facility, Scarf, a 1 t (XeD)LAr test stand in the shallow underground laboratory (UGL) of TU-Munich. These three scintillation and optical parameters were observed simultaneously with a single setup, the Legend Liquid Argon Monitoring Apparatus, Llama. The actual xenon concentrations in the liquid and gaseous phases were determined with the Impurity DEtector For Investigation of Xenon, Idefix, a mass spectrometer setup, and successful doping was confirmed. At the highest dopant concentration we find a doubling of Y, a tenfold reduction of τ 3 to ∼90 ns and a tenfold increase of λ att to over 6 m.

2021 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. 11014
Author(s):  
Mario Schwarz ◽  
Patrick Krause ◽  
Andreas Leonhardt ◽  
Laszlo Papp ◽  
Stefan Schönert ◽  
...  

LEGEND is the next-generation experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay in 76Ge. The first stage, LEGEND-200, takes over the cryogenic infrastructure of GERDA at LNGS: an instrumented water tank surrounding a 64 m3 liquid argon cryostat. Around 200 kg of Ge detectors will be deployed in the cryostat, with the liquid argon acting as cooling medium, high-purity passive shielding and secondary detection medium. For the latter purpose, a liquid argon instrumentation is developed, based on the system used in GERDA Phase II. Wavelength shifting fibers coated with TPB are arranged in two concentric barrels. Both ends are read out by SiPM arrays. A wavelength shifting reflector surrounds the array in order to enhance the light collection far from the array. The LLAMA is installed in the cryostat to permanently monitor the optical parameters and to provide in-situ inputs for modeling purposes. The design of all parts of the LEGEND-200 LAr instrumentation is presented. An overview of the geometry, operation principle, and off-line data analysis of the LLAMA is shown.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1570
Author(s):  
Shujahadeen B. Aziz ◽  
Elham M. A. Dannoun ◽  
Dana A. Tahir ◽  
Sarkawt A. Hussen ◽  
Rebar T. Abdulwahid ◽  
...  

In the current study, polymer nanocomposites (NCPs) based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with altered refractive index and absorption edge were synthesized by means of a solution cast technique. The characterization techniques of UV–Vis spectroscopy and XRD were used to inspect the structural and optical properties of the prepared films. The XRD patterns of the doped samples have shown clear amendments in the structural properties of the PVA host polymer. Various optical parameters were studied to get more insights about the influence of CeO2 on optical properties of PVA. On the insertion of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) into the PVA matrix, the absorption edge was found to move to reduced photon energy sides. It was concluded that the CeO2 nanoparticles can be used to tune the refractive index (n) of the host polymer, and it reached up to 1.93 for 7 wt.% of CeO2 content. A detailed study of the bandgap (BG) was conducted using two approaches. The outcomes have confirmed the impact of the nanofiller on the BG reduction of the host polymer. The results of the optical BG study highlighted that it is crucial to address the ɛ” parameter during the BG analysis, and it is considered as a useful tool to specify the type of electronic transitions. Finally, the dispersion region of n is conferred in terms of the Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1648
Author(s):  
Muaffaq M. Nofal ◽  
Shujahadeen B. Aziz ◽  
Jihad M. Hadi ◽  
Wrya O. Karim ◽  
Elham M. A. Dannoun ◽  
...  

In this work, a green approach was implemented to prepare polymer composites using polyvinyl alcohol polymer and the extract of black tea leaves (polyphenols) in a complex form with Co2+ ions. A range of techniques was used to characterize the Co2+ complex and polymer composite, such as Ultraviolet–visible (UV-Visible) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical parameters of absorption edge, refractive index (n), dielectric properties including real and imaginary parts (εr, and εi) were also investigated. The FRIR and XRD spectra were used to examine the compatibility between the PVA polymer and Co2+-polyphenol complex. The extent of interaction was evidenced from the shifts and change in the intensity of the peaks. The relatively wide amorphous phase in PVA polymer increased upon insertion of the Co2+-polyphenol complex. The amorphous character of the Co2+ complex was emphasized with the appearance of a hump in the XRD pattern. From UV-Visible spectroscopy, the optical properties, such as absorption edge, refractive index (n), (εr), (εi), and bandgap energy (Eg) of parent PVA and composite films were specified. The Eg of PVA was lowered from 5.8 to 1.82 eV upon addition of 45 mL of Co2+-polyphenol complex. The N/m* was calculated from the optical dielectric function. Ultimately, various types of electronic transitions within the polymer composites were specified using Tauc’s method. The direct bandgap (DBG) treatment of polymer composites with a developed amorphous phase is fundamental for commercialization in optoelectronic devices.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1225
Author(s):  
Ali Atta ◽  
Mostufa M. Abdelhamied ◽  
Ahmed M. Abdelreheem ◽  
Mohamed R. Berber

In order to potentiate implementations in optical energy applications, flexible polymer composite films comprising methyl cellulose (MC), polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully fabricated through a cast preparation method. The composite structure of the fabricated film was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, indicating a successful incorporation of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have indicated a homogenous loading and dispersion of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend. The optical parameters such as band gap (Eg), absorption edge (Ed), number of carbon cluster (N) and Urbach energy (Eu) of pure MC polymer, MC/PANI blend and MC/PANI/Ag films were determined using the UV optical absorbance. The effects of AgNPs and PANI on MC polymer linear optical (LO) and nonlinear optical (NLO) parameters including reflection extinction coefficient, refractive index, dielectric constant, nonlinear refractive index, and nonlinear susceptibility are studied. The results showed a decrease in the band gap of MC/PANI/AgNPs compared to the pure MC film. Meanwhile, the estimated carbon cluster number enhanced with the incorporation of the AgNPs. The inclusion of AgNPs and PANI has enhanced the optical properties of the MC polymer, providing a new composite suitable for energy conversion systems, solar cells, biosensors, and nonlinear optical applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Naher ◽  
S. H. Naqib

AbstractIn recent days, study of topological Weyl semimetals have become an active branch of physics and materials science because they led to realization of the Weyl fermions and exhibited protected Fermi arc surface states. Therefore, topological Weyl semimetals TaX (X = P, As) are important electronic systems to investigate both from the point of view of fundamental physics and potential applications. In this work, we have studied the structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, bonding, acoustic, thermal and optical properties of TaX (X = P, As) in detail via first-principles method using the density functional theory. A comprehensive study of elastic constants and moduli shows that both TaP and TaAs possesses low to medium level of elastic anisotropy (depending on the measure), reasonably good machinability, mixed bonding characteristics with ionic and covalent contributions, brittle nature and relatively high Vickers hardness with a low Debye temperature and melting temperature. The minimum thermal conductivities and anisotropies of TaX (X = P, As) are calculated. Bond population analysis supports the bonding nature as predicted by the elastic parameters. The bulk electronic band structure calculations reveal clear semi-metallic features with quasi-linear energy dispersions in certain sections of the Brillouin zone near the Fermi level. A pseudogap in the electronic energy density of states at the Fermi level separating the bonding and the antibonding states indicates significant electronic stability of tetragonal TaX (X = P, As).The reflectivity spectra show almost non-selective behavior over a wide range of photon energy encompassing visible to mid-ultraviolet regions. High reflectivity over wide spectral range makes TaX suitable as reflecting coating. TaX (X = P, As) are very efficient absorber of ultraviolet radiation. Both the compounds are moderately optically anisotropic owing to the anisotropic nature of the electronic band structure. The refractive indices are very high in the infrared to visible range. All the energy dependent optical parameters show metallic features and are in complete accord with the underlying bulk electronic density of states calculations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089270572110386
Author(s):  
Ali F Al-Shawabkeh ◽  
Ziad M Elimat ◽  
Khaleel N Abushgair

The goal of this study was to investigate the optical properties of the prepared polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite films. The PVC/ZnO nanocomposite films consist of the addition of different concentrations with both non-annealed ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles annealed at temperature of 700°C. The PVC/ZnO nanocomposite films by weight concentrations of (0 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, 5 wt.% and 10 wt.%) have been prepared by the casting method. The optical absorbance and transmittance values of the composites films were measured in the wavelength range between (250 to 1100 nm) at room temperature by using the UV-1800 Shimadzu spectrophotometer. The optical properties (absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, refractive index, and optical conductivity) have been investigated by the ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer. The optical parameters (direct optical energy gap, excitation energy for electronic transitions, the dispersion energy, static refractive index, static dielectric constant, optical oscillator strengths, the moments of optical spectrum, linear optical susceptibility, third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, nonlinear refractive index, high-frequency dielectric constant, the carrier concentration to the effective mass ratio, the long wavelength refractive index and the plasma frequency) were calculated. The results showed that the optical properties behavior of the PVC/ZnO nanocomposite films was found to be dependent on the ZnO concentration, and photon wavelength. In addition, the results of the study show that the optical parameters can be influenced by alter the concentration of the nonannealed and annealed a ZnO nanoparticle in the PVC polymer matrix.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 03004
Author(s):  
Abdelouahid Tahiri ◽  
Mohamed Diouri

The atmospheric aerosol contributes to the definition of the climate with direct effect, the diffusion and absorption of solar and terrestrial radiations, and indirect, the cloud formation process where aerosols behave as condensation nuclei and alter the optical properties. Satellites and ground-based networks (solar photometers) allow the terrestrial aerosol observation and the determination of impact. Desert aerosol considered among the main types of tropospheric aerosols whose optical property uncertainties are still quite important. The analysis concerns the optical parameters recorded in 2015 at Ouarzazate solar photometric station (AERONET/PHOTONS network, http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/) close to Saharan zone. The daily average aerosol optical depthτaer at 0.5μm, are relatively high in summer and less degree in spring (from 0.01 to 1.82). Daily average of the Angstrom coefficients α vary between 0.01 and 1.55. The daily average of aerosol radiative forcing at the surface range between -150W/m2 and -10 W/m2 with peaks recorded in summer, characterized locally by large loads of desert aerosol in agreement with the advections of the Southeast of Morocco. Those recorded at the Top of the atmosphere show a variation from -74 W/m2 to +24 W/m2


2015 ◽  
Vol 08 (03) ◽  
pp. 1541005 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Wróbel ◽  
A. P. Popov ◽  
A. V. Bykov ◽  
M. Kinnunen ◽  
M. Jędrzejewska-Szczerska ◽  
...  

Extensive research in the area of optical sensing for medical diagnostics requires development of tissue phantoms with optical properties similar to those of living human tissues. Development and improvement of in vivo optical measurement systems requires the use of stable tissue phantoms with known characteristics, which are mainly used for calibration of such systems and testing their performance over time. Optical and mechanical properties of phantoms depend on their purpose. Nevertheless, they must accurately simulate specific tissues they are supposed to mimic. Many tissues and organs including head possess a multi-layered structure, with specific optical properties of each layer. However, such a structure is not always addressed in the present-day phantoms. In this paper, we focus on the development of a plain-parallel multi-layered phantom with optical properties (reduced scattering coefficient [Formula: see text] and absorption coefficient μa) corresponding to the human head layers, such as skin, skull, and gray and white matter of the brain tissue. The phantom is intended for use in noninvasive diffuse near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of human brain. Optical parameters of the fabricated phantoms are reconstructed using spectrophotometry and inverse adding-doubling calculation method. The results show that polyvinyl chloride-plastisol (PVCP) and zinc oxide ( ZnO ) nanoparticles are suitable materials for fabrication of tissue mimicking phantoms with controlled scattering properties. Good matching was found between optical properties of phantoms and the corresponding values found in the literature.


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