학술논문

Why would you put a flashlight in a dark matter detector?
Document Type
article
Source
Journal of Instrumentation. 19(01)
Subject
Nuclear and Plasma Physics
Particle and High Energy Physics
Physical Sciences
Dark Matter detectors (WIMPs
axions
etc.)
Noble liquid detectors (scintillation
ionization
double-phase)
Photon detectors for UV
visible and IR photons
Scintillators
scintillation and light emission processes (solid
gas and liquid scintillators)
Engineering
Nuclear & Particles Physics
Physical sciences
Language
Abstract
Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are solid-state, single-photon sensitive, pixelated sensors whose usage for scintillation detection has rapidly increased over the past decade. It is known that the avalanche process within the device, which renders a single photon detectable, can also generate secondary photons which may be detected by a separate device. This effect, known as external crosstalk, could potentially degrade the science goals of future xenon dark matter experiments. In this article, we measure the effect of external crosstalk in a dual-phase, liquid xenon time projection chamber fully instrumented with SiPMs. We then consider the implications for a future xenon dark matter experiment utilizing SiPMs and discuss possible solutions.