arXiv subjects

C. G. Yang

Publications and source records attributed to C. G. Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Precise Measurement and Control of Radon Progeny on Detector Surfaces

In low-background particle physics experiments, surface deposition of radon progeny presents a significant background challenge. To characterize this contamination, a high-sensitivity surface $\alpha$-activity measurement system was developed, which employs a 3$\times$3 Si-PIN array operating in vacuum to perform $\alpha$-spectroscopy on samples. The system was calibrated using Poly(Methyl MethAcrylate) (PMMA) plates exposed to a controlled high-radon atmosphere, achieving an energy resolution of 2.09 \% for 5.30~MeV $\alpha$ particles and a one-day measurement sensitivity of 1.27~$\mu$Bq/cm$^2$ for $^{210}$Po surface activity. Using this system and a self-built high radon concentration chamber, the deposition behavior of radon progeny on PMMA surfaces was investigated. Results indicate a non-monotonic dependence on exposure time, a significant enhancement of deposition with increasing negative surface electrostatic potential, and a strong modulation by ambient humidity. This paper details the apparatus design, calibration, and experimental study of radon progeny deposition dynamics on PMMA surfaces.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of radon concentration in the output water of the 100~t/h ultrapure water system at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multi-purpose low background liquid scintillator detector, was proposed primarily to determine the neutrino mass ordering. To mitigate radioactivity from surrounding rock and enable cosmic muon tagging, its central detector is immersed in a Water Cherenkov Detector (WCD) containing 40~ktons of ultrapure water instrumented with 2400 20-inch micro-channel plate photomultiplier tubes. Stringent radiopurity requirements mandate a radon concentration below 10 ~mBq/m$^3$ in the WCD. To achieve this, we developed a two-stage (ground and underground) ultrapure water system with 100~t/h production capacity, integrating a five-stage degassing membrane for radon removal. A novel microbubble technique was implemented to optimize the degassing membranes' radon removal efficiency. The synergistic combination of the microbubble technology and the multistage degassing membranes achieved a radon removal efficiency exceeding 99.9\%, reducing the system's output to 0.61 $\pm$ 0.50~mBq/m$^3$ in recirculation mode, surpassing design specifications and establishing world-leading performance standards. This paper details the ultrapure system architecture, quantifies the radon contributions of each device, and presents a comprehensive study on microbubble-augmented membrane degassing for low radon ultra-pure water production in a 100~t/h water system.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Development of low-radon ultra-pure water for the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO) is a state-of-the-art liquid scintillator-based neutrino physics experiment under construction in South China. To reduce the background from external radioactivities, a water Cherenkov detector composed of 35~kton ultra-pure water and 2,400 20-inch photomultiplier tubes is developed. Even after specialized treatment, ultra-pure water still contains trace levels of radioactive elements that can contribute to the detector background. Among which $^{222}$Rn is particularly significant. To address this, an online radon removal system based on the JUNO prototype has been developed. By integrating micro-bubble generators to enhance degasser's radon removal efficiency, the radon concentration in water can be reduced to 1~mBq/m$^{3}$ level, meeting the stringent requirements of JUNO. Additionally, a highly sensitive online radon concentration measurement system capable of detecting concentrations $\sim$1~mBq/m$^3$ has been developed to monitor the radon concentration in water. In this paper, the details regarding both systems will be presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Developing a $μ$Bq/m$^{3}$ level $^{226}$Ra concentration in water measurement system for the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20~kton multi-purpose low background Liquid Scintillator (LS) detector, was proposed primarily to determine the neutrino mass ordering. To suppress the radioactivity from the surrounding rocks and tag cosmic muons, the JUNO central detector is submerged in a Water Cherenkov Detector (WCD). In addition to being used in the WCD, ultrapure water is used in LS filling, for which the $^{226}$Ra concentration in water needs to be less than 50~$μ$Bq/m$^3$. To precisely measure the $^{226}$Ra concentration in water, a 6.0~$μ$Bq/m$^3$ $^{226}$Ra concentration in water measurement system has been developed. In this paper, the detail of the measurement system as well as the $^{226}$Ra concentration measurement result in regular EWII ultrapure water will be presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

A study of liquid argon detector's $n$/$γ$ discrimination capability with PMT or SiPM readout

Liquid Argon (LAr) is used as a target material in several current and planned experiments related to dark matter direct searching and neutrino detection. Argon provides excellent Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) capability which could separate the electron recoil backgrounds from the expected nuclear recoil signals. This essay simulated the PSD capability of an LAr detector when PMTs or three kinds of SiPMs are used as photosensors based on the experimental data. The results show that the J-60035 SiPM could help the LAr detector achieve the highest PSD capability event though SiPM's After-Pulse (AP) and Cross-Talk (CT) deteriorate its PSD capability. In addition, the results also show that the effect from AP is greater than CT. This is instructive for selecting photosensors for LAr detectors.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Analysis of signal waveform from a midsize liquid argon detetor

The midsize single-phase liquid argon prototype detector, operating at the surface laboratory, is designed to measure scintillation light emitted by the liquid argon (LAr). The detector employs 42 8-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMT) to collect the light. By analyzing the waveform of the signal, important detector characteristics such as the slow decay time constant that characterizes the purity of the liquid argon can be obtained. To describe the signal waveform, a model that considers the TPB re-emission process and the signal reflection effects based on the principles of liquid argon light emission, including fast and slow components of light decay, is used. The TPB re-emission process is introduced using a three-exponential time structure. Additionally, experimental results provide comprehensive validation for a post-peak hump structure, which is attributed to signal reflection.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Research of radon diffusion behavior in liquid scintillator

The background caused by radon and its daughters is an important background in the low background liquid scintillator (LS) detectors. The study of the diffusion behaviour of radon in the LS contributes to the analysis of the related background caused by radon. Methodologies and devices for measuring the diffusion coefficient and solubility of radon in materials are developed and described. The radon diffusion coefficient of the LS was measured for the first time and in addition the solubility coefficient was also obtained. In addition, the radon diffusion coefficient of the polyolefine film which is consistent with data in the literature was measured to verify the reliability of the diffusion device.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Characterization of two SiPM arrays from Hamamatsu and Onsemi for liquid argon detector

Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), a new type of photosensor, is considered a substitute for traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT) in the next generation of dark matter and neutrino detectors, especially in noble gas detectors like liquid argon. However, the design of compact SiPM arrays and their cryogenic electronics that can work in liquid argon is barely developed. Thus, two candidate SiPM arrays from Hamamatsu and Onsemi were selected to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the design. In this work, we successfully developed a cryogenic electronics read-out system that connects and works with 1-inch 4$\times$4 SiPM arrays at 87~K. The power dissipation of amplifiers is less than 10 $μ$W/mm$^2$. Furthermore, multiply significant characteristics of both types of SiPM arrays were measured at liquid argon temperature, such as dark count rate (DCR), breakdown voltage (V${_{bd}}$), single photoelectron (SPE) performance, signal to noise ratio (SNR) and correlated signal probability.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

A Study on the radon removal performance of low background activated carbon

Radon and radon daughters pose significant backgrounds to rare-event searching experiments. Activated carbon, which has very strong adsorption capacity for radon, can be used for radon removal and radon enrichment. The internal $^{226}$Ra concentration ultimately limits its radon enrichment ability. In order to measure the intrinsic background and study the radon adsorption capability of Saratech activated carbon at various temperatures, a radon-emanation measurement system with a high-sensitivity radon detector and an adsorption-performance research-system have been developed. In this paper, a 0.71~mBq/m$^3$ high-sensitivity radon detector and measurement details of the radon-adsorption capability of Saratech activated carbon at low temperature will be presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Characterization of VUV4 SiPM for Liquid Argon Detector

Particle detectors based on liquid argon are now recognised as an attractive technology for dark matter direct detection and coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering measurement. A program using a dual-phase liquid argon detector with a fiducial mass of 200~kg to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering at Taishan Nuclear Power Plant has been proposed. SiPMs will be used as the photon sensor because of their high radio-purity and high photon detection efficiency. S13370-6050CN SiPM, made by Hamamatsu, is a candidate for the detector. In this paper, the characterisation of S13370-6050CN SiPM, including the cross talk and after pulse probabilities at liquid argon temperature and the temperature dependence of break down voltage, dark counting rate and relative quantum efficiency were presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Gain and charge response of 20 inch MCP and dynode PMTs

JUNO is a 20-kton liquid scintillator detector aiming to determine the neutrino mass ordering, precisely measure the oscillation parameters, detect the astrophysical neutrinos and search for exotic physics. It is designed to reach an energy resolution of 3% at 1 MeV with the highest ever PMT coverage, using two types of 20 inch phototubes: MCP-PMT from NNVT and dynode-PMT from Hamamatsu. In this article, the gain and charge response of the MCP and dynode PMTs are investigated with the study of JUNO Central Detector prototype. The linearity of the MCP-PMT charge output is measured too to check the effect of a long tail on its charge spectrum.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Using $^{22}$Na and $^{83{\rm m}}$Kr to calibrate and study the properties of scintillation in xenon-doped liquid argon

We have measured the properties of scintillation light in liquid argon doped with xenon concentrations from 165 ppm to 10,010 ppm using a $^{22}$Na source. The energy transfer processes in the xenon-doped liquid argon are discussed in detail, and a new waveform model is established and used to fit the average waveform. The time profile of the scintillation photon in the xenon-doped liquid argon and of the TPB emission are presented. The quantities of xenon-doped are controlled by a Mass Flow Controller which is calibrated via a Redusial Gas Analyzer to ensure that the xenon concentration is accurate. In addition, a successful test of $^{83{\rm m}}$Kr as a calibration source has been implemented in the xenon-doped liquid argon detector for the first time. By comparing the light yield of the $^{22}$Na and $^{83{\rm m}}$Kr, it can be concluded that the scintillation efficiency is almost same over the range of 41.5 keV to 511 keV.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Comparison on PMT Waveform Reconstructions with JUNO Prototype

JUNO is proposed to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy and rich in many other neutrino topics. A prototype is designed and set up for better understanding sub-systems of future detector. The preliminary results show that its threshold reaches ~0.3MeV with trigger rate ~290 Hz on the ground with cosmic muon rate ~35 Hz. Aiming for a better detector understanding from PMT signal, three reconstruction algorithms are compared for PMT waveforms with different overshoot ratios, including charge integration, waveform fitting, and deconvolution. It is concluded that the three methods have similar performance on uncertainty and systematic bias while deconvolution algorithm is best to handle larger overshoot and the simplest charge integration could be considered with controlled overshoot for future fast preliminary reconstruction.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

The water system and radon measurement system of Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20ktons multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector, was proposed with the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal. Due to low background requirement of the experiment, a multi-veto system ,which consists of a water Cherenkov detector and a top tracker detector, is required. In order to keep the water quality good and remove the radon in the water, a ultra-pure water system, a radon removal system and radon concentration measurement system have been designed. In this paper, the radon removal equipments and its radon removal limit will be presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

The development of $^{222}$Rn detectors for JUNO prototype

The radioactive noble gas $^{222}$Rn, which can be dissolved in water, is an important background source for JUNO. In this paper, based on the water system of JUNO prototype, two kinds of high sensitivity radon detectors have been proposed and developed. The sensitivity of Si-PIN Rn detector, which uses a Si-PIN photodiode to detect the $α$ from $^{214}$Po decay, is $\sim$9.0~mBq/m$^3$. The sensitivity of LS Rn detector, which uses liquid scintillator to detect the coincident signals of $β$ from $^{214}$Bi decay and $α$ from $^{214}$Po decay, is $\sim$64.0~mBq/m$^3$. Both of the two kinds of Rn detector have the potential to be developed as an online Rn concentration monitoring equipment for JUNO veto detector.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Using Mineral Oil to Improve the Performance of Multi-Crystal Detector for Dark Matter Searching

The inorganic crystals have been widely used for dark matter direct searching for many decades. However, limited by the crystal growth technique, a lot of small crystals have to be used together for large target mass, which results in a degradation of light collection efficiency. An experiment was built up to study the degradation, and the method of soaking crystals into mineral oil to improve the efficiency as well as reduce the interface effect were proposed and validated. Good data and MC agreements were achieved in the experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Did the 2000 November 8 solar flare accelerate protons to >=40 GeV?

It has been reported that a 5.7sigma directional muon excess coincident with the 2000 July 14 solar flare was registered by the L3 precision muon spectrometer [Ruiguang Wang, Astroparticle Phys., 31(2009) 149]. Using a same analysis method and similar criteria of event selection, we have analyzed the L3 precision muon spectrometer data during November 2000. The result shows that a 4.7sigma muon excess appeared at a time coincident with the solar flare of 8 of November 2000. This muon excess corresponds to above 40 GeV primary protons which came from a sky cell of solid angle 0.048 sr. The probability of being a background fluctuation is estimated to be about 0.1%. It has been convinced that solar protons could be accelerated to tens of GeV in those Class X solar flares which usually arose solar cosmic ray ground level enhancement (GLE) events. However, whether a Class M solar flare like the non-GLE event of 8 November 2000 may also accelerate solar protons to such high energies? It is interesting and noteworthy.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Discriminating cosmic muons and radioactivity using a liquid scintillation fiber detector

In the case of underground experiments for neutrino physics or rare event searches, the background caused by cosmic muons contributes significantly and therefore must be identified and rejected. We proposed and optimized a new detector using liquid scintillator with wavelenghth-shifting fibers which can be employed as a veto detector for cosmic muons background rejection. From the prototype study, it has been found that the detector has good performances and is capable of discriminating between muons induced signals and environmental radiation background. Its muons detection efficiency is greater than 98$\%$, and on average, 58 photo-electrons (p.e.) are collected when a muon passes through the detector. To optimize the design and enhance the collection of light, the reflectivity of the coating materials has been studied in detail. A Monte Carlo simulation of the detector has been developed and compared to the performed measurements showing a good agreement between data and simulation results.

physics.ins-det↗