dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaResponse of Superheated Droplet Detectors of the PICASSO Dark Matter Search Experiment
| Authors | The PICASSO Collaboration, M. Barnabe-Heider, E. Behnke, K. Clark, M. Di Marco, P. Doane, W. Feighery, M. -H. Genest, R. Gornea, R. Guenette, S. Kanagalingam, C. B. Krauss, C. Leroy, L. Lessard, I. Levine, J. -P. Martin, C. Muthusi, A. J. Noble, R. Noulty, U. Wichoski, V. Zacek |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0508098 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0508098 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.nima.2005.09.015 |
| Journal | Nucl.Instrum.Meth. A555 (2005) 184-204 |
Abstract
We present results of systematic studies of the radiation response of superheated liquid droplet detectors, which are used in the PICASSO dark matter search experiment. This detection technique is based on the phase transitions of superheated liquid Freon droplets dispersed and trapped in a polymerized gel. Phase transitions can be induced by nuclear recoils following particle interactions and, in particular, interactions with Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). These detectors are threshold devices since a minimal energy deposition is necessary to induce a phase transition and their sensitivity to various types of radiation depends strongly on the operating temperature and pressure. The sensitivity to neutrons, alpha particles and gamma rays was determined as a function of these operating parameters and the results are compared with simulations. In particular, we present a complete characterization of the response of detector modules already in use for a dark matter search at the SNO site to detect WIMPs and discuss possible background sources.
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"abstract": "We present results of systematic studies of the radiation response of\nsuperheated liquid droplet detectors, which are used in the PICASSO dark matter\nsearch experiment. This detection technique is based on the phase transitions\nof superheated liquid Freon droplets dispersed and trapped in a polymerized\ngel. Phase transitions can be induced by nuclear recoils following particle\ninteractions and, in particular, interactions with Weakly Interacting Massive\nParticles (WIMPs). These detectors are threshold devices since a minimal energy\ndeposition is necessary to induce a phase transition and their sensitivity to\nvarious types of radiation depends strongly on the operating temperature and\npressure. The sensitivity to neutrons, alpha particles and gamma rays was\ndetermined as a function of these operating parameters and the results are\ncompared with simulations. In particular, we present a complete\ncharacterization of the response of detector modules already in use for a dark\nmatter search at the SNO site to detect WIMPs and discuss possible background\nsources.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0508098",
"authors": [
"The PICASSO Collaboration",
"M. Barnabe-Heider",
"E. Behnke",
"K. Clark",
"M. Di Marco",
"P. Doane",
"W. Feighery",
"M. -H. Genest",
"R. Gornea",
"R. Guenette",
"S. Kanagalingam",
"C. B. Krauss",
"C. Leroy",
"L. Lessard",
"I. Levine",
"J. -P. Martin",
"C. Muthusi",
"A. J. Noble",
"R. Noulty",
"U. Wichoski",
"V. Zacek"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ins-det"
],
"doi": "10.1016/j.nima.2005.09.015",
"journal_ref": "Nucl.Instrum.Meth. A555 (2005) 184-204",
"title": "Response of Superheated Droplet Detectors of the PICASSO Dark Matter Search Experiment",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0508098"
},
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