Investigating Optical Coupling Material Candidates in NaI(Tl) Detectors for the SABRE-North Dark Matter Experiment

Abstract

Direct dark matter detection with NaI(Tl) scintillators requires ultra-low-background materials. Silicone optical pads can couple NaI(Tl) crystals to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) if they provide adequate optical transmission and radiopurity. We characterize four candidate materials for the SABRE-North experiment: commercial EJ-560, used as a reference, and three materials produced at the University of Salento (SYLGARD 184, EGel 3002 A/B, and a hybrid formulation) using different catalyst ratios and curing conditions, yielding ten samples in total. Optical transmittance was measured from 310 to 850 nm by UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotometry. Radiopurity was assessed at the STELLA facility at LNGS using high-purity germanium (HPGe) $γ$-ray spectrometry and, for EJ-560, high-resolution ICP-MS. At the 410 nm NaI(Tl) emission peak, EJ-560 shows an absorbance coefficient of $0.064\pm0.017$ mm$^{-1}$. The best locally produced samples reach $0.097\pm0.015$ and $0.093\pm0.014$ mm$^{-1}$ for SYLGARD 184 with a 10:2 base-to-catalyst ratio cured at room temperature and at $40^\circ$C, respectively, $0.125\pm0.015$ mm$^{-1}$ for EGel 3002 with a 2B:A ratio cured at $40^\circ$C, and $0.106\pm0.014$ mm$^{-1}$ for the hybrid 10:1 EGel A:CataSYL formulation cured at room temperature. EJ-560 exhibits detectable $^{232}$Th-chain activity at about 1.8 mBq/kg and the highest $^{40}$K activity, $(120\pm20)$ mBq/kg. The locally produced materials show no detectable Th-chain contamination but exhibit $^{226}$Ra activities of about 2.3 mBq/kg and lower $^{40}$K levels. No single material is optimal across all criteria. Additional ICP-MS screening, HPGe measurements of cured pads, and direct NaI(Tl)-PMT light-yield tests are required for a conclusive SABRE-North material selection.