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arXiv · 1602.01974

Commissioning of a dual-phase xenon TPC at Nikhef

E. Hogenbirk·J. Aalbers·M. Bader·P. A. Breur·A. Brown·M. P. Decowski·C. Tunnell·R. Walet·A. P. Colijn
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Abstract

A dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber was built at Nikhef in Amsterdam as a direct dark matter detection R&D facility. In this paper, the setup is presented and the first results from a calibration with a $^{22}$Na gamma-ray source are presented. The results show an average light yield of (5.6 $\pm$ 0.3) photoelectrons/keV (calculated to 122 keV and zero field) and an electron lifetime of (429 $\pm$ 26) $μ$s. The best energy resolution $σ_E/E$ is (5.8 $\pm$ 0.2)% at an energy of 511 keV. This was achieved using a combination of the scintillation and the ionization signals. A photomultiplier tube gain calibration technique, based on the electroluminescence signals occurring from isolated electrons, is presented and its advantages and limitations are discussed.

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E. Hogenbirk, J. Aalbers, M. Bader, P. A. Breur, A. Brown, M. P. Decowski, C. Tunnell, R. Walet, A. P. Colijn. 2016-10-18. Commissioning of a dual-phase xenon TPC at Nikhef. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.09.052

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