arXiv subjects

Philippe Gros

Publications and source records attributed to Philippe Gros.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Demonstration of Efficient Radon Removal by Silver-Zeolite in a Dark Matter Detector

We present the performance of an efficient radon trap using silver-zeolite Ag-ETS-10, measured with a spherical proportional counter filled with an argon/methane mixture. Our study compares the radon reduction capabilities of silver-zeolite and the widely used activated charcoal, both at room temperature. We demonstrate that silver-zeolite significantly outperforms activated charcoal by three orders of magnitude in radon capture. Given that radon is a major background contaminant in rare event searches, our findings highlight silver-zeolite as a highly promising adsorbent, offering compelling operational advantages for both current and future dark matter and neutrino physics experiments. Furthermore, this not only offers great promise for developing future radon reduction systems in underground laboratories, but also paves the way for innovative, multidisciplinary advancements with far-reaching implications in science, engineering and environmental health.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Double-hit separation and dE/dx resolution of a time projection chamber with GEM readout

A time projection chamber (TPC) with micropattern gaseous detector (MPGD) readout is investigated as main tracking device of the International Large Detector (ILD) concept at the planned International Linear Collider (ILC). A prototype TPC equipped with a triple gas electron multiplier (GEM) readout has been built and operated in an electron test beam. The TPC was placed in a 1 T solenoidal field at the DESY II Test Beam Facility, which provides an electron beam up to 6 GeV/c. The performance of the readout modules, in particular the spatial point resolution, is determined and compared to earlier tests. New studies are presented with first results on the separation of close-by tracks and the capability of the system to measure the specific energy loss dE/dx. This is complemented by a simulation study on the optimization of the readout granularity to improve particle identification by dE/dx.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

gamma-ray telescopes using conversions to electron-positron pairs: event generators, angular resolution and polarimetry

We benchmark various available event generators in Geant4 and EGS5 in the light of ongoing projects for high angular-resolution pair-conversion telescopes. We compare the distributions of key kinematic variables extracted from the geometry of the three final state particles. We validate and use as reference an exact generator using the full 5D differential cross-section of the conversion process. We focus in particular on the effect of the unmeasured recoiling nucleus on the angular resolution. We show that for high resolution trackers, the choice of the generator affects the estimated resolution of the telescope. We also show that the current available generator are unable to describe accurately a linearly polarised photon source.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

$γ$-ray polarimetry with conversions to $e^+e^-$ pairs: polarization asymmetry and the way to measure it

We revisit the measurement of the polarization fraction, $P$, and the measurement of the polarization angle of partially linearly-polarized gamma rays using their conversion to $e^+e^-$ pairs in the field of a nucleus. We show that an inappropriate definition of the azimuthal angle, $φ$, used to reference the orientation of the final state degrades the precision of the measurement of $P$, by comparison to the optimal case where the bisector angle of the electron and of the positron momenta is used. We then focus on the lowest part of the energy spectrum, below $\approx 10\,$MeV, where a large part of the statistics lie for a cosmic source. We obtain the value of the polarization asymmetry, $A$, of pair conversion at threshold and we show that in the case where the correct expression is used for $φ$, the measured value of $A$ tends to the limit.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

First measurement of polarisation asymmetry of a gamma-ray beam between 1.74 to 74 MeV with the HARPO TPC

Current $γ$-ray telescopes suffer from a gap in sensitivity in the energy range between 100keV and 100MeV, and no polarisation measurement has ever been done on cosmic sources above 1MeV. Past and present e$^+$e$^-$ pair telescopes are limited at lower energies by the multiple scattering of electrons in passive tungsten converter plates. This results in low angular resolution, and, consequently, a drop in sensitivity to point sources below 1GeV. The polarisation information, which is carried by the azimuthal angle of the conversion plane, is lost for the same reasons. HARPO (Hermetic ARgon POlarimeter) is an R\&D program to characterise the operation of a gaseous detector (a Time Projection Chamber or TPC) as a high angular-resolution and sensitivity telescope and polarimeter for $γ$ rays from cosmic sources. It represents a first step towards a future space instrument in the MeV-GeV range. We built and characterised a 30cm cubic demonstrator [SPIE 91441M], and put it in a polarised $γ$-ray beam at the NewSUBARU accelerator in Japan. Data were taken at photon energies from 1.74MeV to 74MeV, and with different polarisation configurations. We describe the experimental setup in beam. We then describe the software we developed to reconstruct the photon conversion events, with special focus on low energies. We also describe the thorough simulation of the detector used to compare results. Finally we will present the performance of the detector as extracted from this analysis and preliminary measurements of the polarisation asymmetry. This beam-test qualification of a gas TPC prototype in a $γ$-ray beam could open the way to high-performance $γ$-ray astronomy and polarimetry in the MeV-GeV energy range in the near future.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

A Time Projection Chamber with GEM-Based Readout

For the International Large Detector concept at the planned International Linear Collider, the use of time projection chambers (TPC) with micro-pattern gas detector readout as the main tracking detector is investigated. In this paper, results from a prototype TPC, placed in a 1 T solenoidal field and read out with three independent GEM-based readout modules, are reported. The TPC was exposed to a 6 GeV electron beam at the DESY II synchrotron. The efficiency for reconstructing hits, the measurement of the drift velocity, the space point resolution and the control of field inhomogeneities are presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

HARPO: beam characterization of a TPC for gamma-ray polarimetry and high angular-resolution astronomy in the MeV-GeV range

A time projection chamber (TPC) can be used to measure the polarization of gamma rays with excellent angular precision and sensitivity in the MeV-GeV energy range through the conversion of photons to e+e- pairs. The Hermetic ARgon POlarimeter (HARPO) prototype was built to demonstrate this concept. It was recently tested in the polarized photon beam at the NewSUBARU facility in Japan. We present this data-taking run, which demonstrated the excellent performance of the HARPO TPC.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2014

HARPO: a TPC as a gamma-ray telescope and polarimeter

A gas Time Projection Chamber can be used for gamma-ray astronomy with excellent angular-precision and sensitivity to faint sources, and for polarimetry, through the measurement of photon conversion to $e^+e^-$ pairs. We present the expected performance in simulations and the recent development of a demonstrator for tests in a polarized photon beam.

astro-ph.IM↗