학술논문
SENSEI: Characterization of Single-Electron Events Using a Skipper Charge-Coupled Device
Document Type
article
Author
Barak, Liron; Bloch, Itay M; Botti, Ana; Cababie, Mariano; Cancelo, Gustavo; Chaplinsky, Luke; Chierchie, Fernando; Crisler, Michael; Drlica-Wagner, Alex; Essig, Rouven; Estrada, Juan; Etzion, Erez; Moroni, Guillermo Fernandez; Gift, Daniel; Holland, Stephen E; Munagavalasa, Sravan; Orly, Aviv; Rodrigues, Dario; Singal, Aman; Haro, Miguel Sofo; Stefanazzi, Leandro; Tiffenberg, Javier; Uemura, Sho; Volansky, Tomer; Yu, Tien-Tien
Source
Physical Review Applied. 17(1)
Subject
Language
Abstract
We use a science-grade skipper charge-coupled device (skipper CCD) operating in a low-radiation background environment to develop a semiempirical model that characterizes the origin of single-electron events in CCDs. We identify, separate, and quantify three independent contributions to the single-electron events, which were previously bundled together and classified as "dark counts": dark current, amplifier light, and spurious charge. We measure a dark current, which depends on exposure, of (5.89±0.77)×10-4e-/pix/day, and an unprecedentedly low spurious charge contribution of (1.52±0.07)×10-4e-/pix, which is exposure independent. In addition, we provide a technique to study events produced by light emitted from the amplifier, which allows the detector's operation to be optimized to minimize this effect to a level below the dark-current contribution. Our accurate characterization of the single-electron events allows one to greatly extend the sensitivity of experiments searching for dark matter or coherent neutrino scattering. Moreover, an accurate understanding of the origin of single-electron events is critical to further progress in ongoing research and development efforts of skipper and conventional CCDs.