Cosmic Ray Measurements Using Pixelated Liquid Argon Detectors Demonstrate Performance with Several Hundred Kilograms of Liquid Argon
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Detecting elusive solar neutrinos demands increasingly sensitive technologies, and the SoLAr collaboration is pioneering a novel approach using liquid argon time projection chambers. N. Anfimov, A. Branca, J. Bürgi, and colleagues, working with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN, present results from a second-generation prototype detector, a substantial chamber containing several hundred kilograms of liquid argon.
The team successfully measures cosmic-ray muons using both tracking and calorimetry, achieved through the innovative combination of charge and light sensors, and demonstrates significantly improved performance through this dual-readout technique. These findings validate the potential of this detector design and pave the way for future development of even larger, kiloton-scale facilities capable of unlocking further secrets of the universe. SiPM Performance for Low-Energy Shower Detection Researchers are meticulously investigating the performance of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) in detecting the faint signals produced by low-energy electromagnetic showers, a crucial capability for both direct dark matter searches and neutrino physics experiments.
The team focuses on optimising SiPM arrays to maximise photon detection efficiency and achieve excellent energy resolution, essential for distinguishing genuine signals from background noise. Comprehensive testing of SiPMs, utilising various light sources and measurement setups, allows for detailed characterisation of their optical and electrical properties, including dark count rate and photon detection efficiency across different wavelengths. Advanced data acquisition systems record individual photon events, enabling precise reconstruction of shower profiles and accurate measurement of energy deposition. Sophisticated simulation tools model the interaction of photons with the SiPM array, validating experimental results and predicting detector response under diverse conditions. Detailed analysis reveals the impact of key parameters, such as the spacing and size of individual light-sensitive elements, on overall detector performance, demonstrating the trade-offs between light collection efficiency and spatial resolution. A novel method for correcting systematic uncertainties in energy calibration improves the sensitivity of dark matter searches by a factor of two. This work provides a comprehensive benchmark of different SiPM technologies, guiding future detector development and optimising performance for low-energy physics experiments.,.
Enhanced Solar Neutrino Detection with Dual Readout The SoLAr collaboration is making significant strides in developing liquid argon time projection chambers for detecting low-energy neutrinos emitted by the sun. Their innovative detector design features a dual-readout anode, integrating both charge and light-sensitive sensors on a single printed circuit board, aiming to improve detection efficiency and energy resolution crucial for studying solar neutrinos and refining our understanding of stellar evolution.
The team successfully operated a second prototype, SoLAr V2, a detector containing several hundred kilograms of liquid argon. Measurements of cosmic-ray muons, conducted over a week-long data-taking period, demonstrate the enhanced performance achieved through combined charge and light reconstruction. The anode plane consists of numerous unit cells, each featuring a single ultraviolet-sensitive silicon photomultiplier surrounded by charge-sensitive pixels. This design allows for precise tracking and calorimetry of particles traversing the detector. Experiments revealed that SoLAr V2’s sensitive area is considerably larger than its predecessor, utilising the latest ultraviolet-sensitive SiPMs and specialised chips. Data analysis confirms the feasibility of a combined calorimetry approach, utilising both ionization and scintillation signals to measure particle energy. These results demonstrate the potential of dual-readout liquid argon time projection chambers for future kiloton-scale facilities dedicated to solar neutrino studies and beyond.,.
Dual Readout Improves Liquid Argon Performance The SoLAr collaboration demonstrates the feasibility of a novel liquid argon time projection chamber design for detecting low-energy neutrinos, specifically those originating from the sun. Researchers successfully operated a second prototype detector, containing several hundred kilograms of liquid argon, and measured cosmic-ray muons using both charge and light sensors. Results indicate improved performance through the combined reconstruction of muon tracks using signals from both charge and light data, highlighting the potential of this dual-readout approach. This integrated system enhances light collection and uniformity, crucial for combining ionization and scintillation signals for improved calorimetry. These findings address key challenges in next-generation solar neutrino studies, including the need for precise energy resolution and manageable data rates.
The team’s work suggests that this detector concept could contribute to more accurate measurements of solar neutrinos, potentially refining our understanding of solar models and the fundamental parameters governing neutrino mixing.,. Simultaneous Light and Charge Readout for LArTPCs Scientists are developing a new approach to improve liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs), detectors used to study elusive particles like neutrinos. Current LArTPCs excel at tracking particles but have limited ability to measure their energy, particularly at low energies. The SoLAr project aims to address this limitation by simultaneously measuring both the charge and the light produced when a particle travels through the liquid argon. This combined information allows for more accurate energy measurements and better identification of the particle type. The core innovation is a pixelated anode, a plane of sensors that simultaneously detects both charge and scintillation light, allowing researchers to reconstruct particle tracks and measure energy with greater precision.
The team built and tested a prototype system to demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, performing extensive simulations using sophisticated software to understand and optimise the detector’s response. Careful calibration of the charge and light signals is essential for accurate energy measurement, and algorithms were developed to reconstruct particle tracks and measure energy based on the combined information. These results demonstrate the potential of this technology to significantly improve the performance of LArTPCs, paving the way for new discoveries in particle physics and astrophysics. The work addresses a critical need for improved calorimetry in LArTPCs, and the successful demonstration of the prototype provides a solid foundation for future development and integration into large-scale experiments. 👉 More information 🗞 Cosmic Ray Measurements Using Charge and Light Readout in a Pixelated Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber 🧠 ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.10830 Tags: