SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 1801.08363

Light Absorption Properties of the High Quality Linear Alkylbenzene for the JUNO Experiment

Abstract

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector designed to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy, and measure the neutrino oscillation parameters. The excellent energy resolution and the large fiducial volume anticipated for the JUNO detector offer exciting opportunities for addressing many important topics in neutrino and astro-particle physics. Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) will be used as the solvent for the liquid scintillation system in the central detector of JUNO. The light attenuation lengths of LAB should be comparable to the diameter of the JUNO detector, hence very good optical transparency is required. However, the presence of impurities in the LAB renders an intrinsic limit for the transparency. This work focuses on the study of the effects of organic impurities in the LAB, and their light absorption properties particularly in the wavelength region of 350 to 450 nm. we have prepared LAB samples and measured their light attenuation lengths. These samples were then analyzed by a gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and the structure formulas of organic impurities were ascertained. These impurities' light absorption properties in the wavelength region of 350 to 550 nm were theoretically investigated with PCM TDDFT. The overall optical transparency of the LAB samples was studied, which would further help us in promoting the LAB preparation technique for the mass production thereof, thus improving the transparency of the high quality LAB samples in the near future.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

De-Wen Cao, Rui Zhang, You-Hang Liu, Chang-Wei Loh, Wei Wang, Zhi-Qiang Qian, Yu-Zhen Yang, Xing Peng, Yong-feng Zhang, Ai-Zhong Huang, Ming Qi. 2018-01-25. Light Absorption Properties of the High Quality Linear Alkylbenzene for the JUNO Experiment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.01.077

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

High-Speed Semi-FE Readout Module for ATLAS MDT at HL-LHC: Design and Production-Level Characterization

The High-Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) introduces increased demands on the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer, particularly in terms of data throughput, timing distribution and system reliability. The Phase-II Chamber Service Module (CSM) is a key component of the upgraded Monitored Drift Tube (MDT) trigger and readout system, providing a high-speed interface between the front-end electronics and the backend systems. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Phase-II CSM, together with its validation. The results show that the CSM supports two independent optical uplinks, each operating at a line rate of 10.24 Gbps, together with clock distribution and slow control in the expected operating environment. Integration with small-diameter MDT (sMDT) chambers and tests with the prototype L0MDT trigger system are also presented. The CSM boards are now in production and will be used for installation and integration during the upcoming LHC Long Shutdown.

physics.ins-det

Spectral Discrimination of Deposited Gamma-Ray Energies in a Simulated CeBr$_3$ Scintillator

We show that wavelength measurements of individual detected optical photons may provide additional information about gamma-ray energy deposited in a CeBr$_3$ crystal when the detected-photon-count distributions overlap for nearby gamma-ray energies. Monoenergetic 662 and 629 keV gammas are used in a Geant4 simulation of a $25\times25\times20~\mathrm{mm^3}$ CeBr$_3$ crystal. Assuming a light yield of $6.0\times10^4$ photons/MeV, a wavelength-independent photon-detection efficiency of 30%, and a wavelength resolution of $\sigma_{\lambda}=40$ nm, we find that the fraction of photons reconstructed above 385 nm gives an event-level separation of $\sim$ 2 standard deviations between the 662 and 629 keV event populations selected within the same $\sim$ 1%-wide detected-photon-count interval. No timing or reconstructed interaction-position information is used. The result demonstrates, within the present simulation model, that event-dependent optical spectra can retain energy information beyond an undifferentiated photon count.

physics.ins-det

Operation of a negative ion gas time projection chamber without electronegative fill gases

The high fidelity reconstruction of particle tracks in micropatterned gaseous time projection chambers renders this technology ideal for future rare-event searches, including direction-sensitive dark matter experiments. Large drift distances are typically required for such experiments, so that the overall spatial resolution is limited by diffusion. Negative ion drift exhibits lower diffusion than electron drift and is thus an attractive option for realising a large-scale detector. The use of electronegative gases to create negative ions introduces technical challenges, most notably a reduction in gain when compared to conventional gas mixtures. In this study, we demonstrate a new method for negative ion generation via dissociative electron attachment using the conventional molecular fill gas CF$_4$. Our optical measurements of negative ion drift indicate electron attachment lengths of $<$1 mm and comparable gain to electron avalanches. The individual negative ion avalanches were also time-resolved, allowing the number of ions reaching the readout to be counted. We measure an improved energy resolution by single ion counting, relative to an integrated electron avalanche signal measured under identical gain conditions.

physics.ins-det