Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles

S. Burgos; J. Forbes; C. Ghag; M. Gold; V. A. Kudryavtsev; T. B. Lawson; D. Loomba; P. Majewski; D. Muna; A. St J. Murphy; G. G. Nicklin; S. M. Paling; A. Petkov; S. J.S. Plank; M. Robinson; N. Sanghi; N. J.T. Smith; D. P. Snowden-Ifft; N. J.C. Spooner; T. J. Sumner; J. Turk; E. Tziaferi

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles

S. Burgos, J. Forbes, C. Ghag, M. Gold, V. A. Kudryavtsev, T. B. Lawson, D. Loomba, P. Majewski, D. Muna, A. St J. Murphy, G. G. Nicklin, S. M. Paling, A. Petkov, S. J.S. Plank, M. Robinson, N. Sanghi, N. J.T. Smith, D. P. Snowden-Ifft, N. J.C. Spooner, T. J. SumnerJ. Turk, E. Tziaferi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector performance-an important step towards optimising directional technology. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was 59.3 ± 0.2 (stat) ± 7.5 (sys) ms^{- 1} based on an analysis of naturally occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIb was 57 ± 1 (stat) ± 3 (sys) ms^{- 1} determined by the analysis of alpha particle tracks from a ²¹⁰Po source. Three-dimensional range reconstruction and range spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of ²²²Rn, ²¹⁸Po, ²²⁰Rn and ²¹⁶Po. This study found that (22 ± 2) % of ²¹⁸Po progeny (from ²²²Rn decay) did not plate out and remained suspended in the 40 Torr CS₂ gas fill until they decayed. A likely explanation for this is that some of the polonium progeny are produced in an uncharged state. For ²¹⁶Po progeny (from ²²⁰Rn decay) the undeposited fraction was apparently much higher at (100_{- 35}^{+ 0}) % most likely due to a shorter lifetime, causing a larger fraction of the progeny to decay whilst drifting to the cathode plane. This explanation implies a much slower drift time for positively charged polonium progeny compared to CS₂^- ions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	114-128
Number of pages	15
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	584
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Alpha spectrometry
Dark matter
Directional detector
Gas detector
Negative ion drift
TPC
WIMPs

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10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

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Burgos, S., Forbes, J., Ghag, C., Gold, M., Kudryavtsev, V. A., Lawson, T. B., Loomba, D., Majewski, P., Muna, D., Murphy, A. S. J., Nicklin, G. G., Paling, S. M., Petkov, A., Plank, S. J. S., Robinson, M., Sanghi, N., Smith, N. J. T., Snowden-Ifft, D. P., Spooner, N. J. C., ... Tziaferi, E. (2008). Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 584(1), 114-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

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title = "Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles",

abstract = "First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector performance-an important step towards optimising directional technology. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was 59.3 ± 0.2 (stat) ± 7.5 (sys) ms- 1 based on an analysis of naturally occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIb was 57 ± 1 (stat) ± 3 (sys) ms- 1 determined by the analysis of alpha particle tracks from a 210Po source. Three-dimensional range reconstruction and range spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of 222Rn, 218Po, 220Rn and 216Po. This study found that (22 ± 2) % of 218Po progeny (from 222Rn decay) did not plate out and remained suspended in the 40 Torr CS2 gas fill until they decayed. A likely explanation for this is that some of the polonium progeny are produced in an uncharged state. For 216Po progeny (from 220Rn decay) the undeposited fraction was apparently much higher at (100- 35+ 0) % most likely due to a shorter lifetime, causing a larger fraction of the progeny to decay whilst drifting to the cathode plane. This explanation implies a much slower drift time for positively charged polonium progeny compared to CS2- ions.",

keywords = "Alpha spectrometry, Dark matter, Directional detector, Gas detector, Negative ion drift, TPC, WIMPs",

author = "S. Burgos and J. Forbes and C. Ghag and M. Gold and Kudryavtsev, {V. A.} and Lawson, {T. B.} and D. Loomba and P. Majewski and D. Muna and Murphy, {A. St J.} and Nicklin, {G. G.} and Paling, {S. M.} and A. Petkov and Plank, {S. J.S.} and M. Robinson and N. Sanghi and Smith, {N. J.T.} and Snowden-Ifft, {D. P.} and Spooner, {N. J.C.} and Sumner, {T. J.} and J. Turk and E. Tziaferi",

year = "2008",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013",

language = "English",

volume = "584",

pages = "114--128",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",

issn = "0168-9002",

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Burgos, S, Forbes, J, Ghag, C, Gold, M, Kudryavtsev, VA, Lawson, TB, Loomba, D, Majewski, P, Muna, D, Murphy, ASJ, Nicklin, GG, Paling, SM, Petkov, A, Plank, SJS, Robinson, M, Sanghi, N, Smith, NJT, Snowden-Ifft, DP, Spooner, NJC, Sumner, TJ, Turk, J & Tziaferi, E 2008, 'Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 584, no. 1, pp. 114-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles. / Burgos, S.; Forbes, J.; Ghag, C. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 584, No. 1, 01.01.2008, p. 114-128.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles

AU - Burgos, S.

AU - Forbes, J.

AU - Ghag, C.

AU - Gold, M.

AU - Kudryavtsev, V. A.

AU - Lawson, T. B.

AU - Loomba, D.

AU - Majewski, P.

AU - Muna, D.

AU - Murphy, A. St J.

AU - Nicklin, G. G.

AU - Paling, S. M.

AU - Petkov, A.

AU - Plank, S. J.S.

AU - Robinson, M.

AU - Sanghi, N.

AU - Smith, N. J.T.

AU - Snowden-Ifft, D. P.

AU - Spooner, N. J.C.

AU - Sumner, T. J.

AU - Turk, J.

AU - Tziaferi, E.

PY - 2008/1/1

Y1 - 2008/1/1

N2 - First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector performance-an important step towards optimising directional technology. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was 59.3 ± 0.2 (stat) ± 7.5 (sys) ms- 1 based on an analysis of naturally occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIb was 57 ± 1 (stat) ± 3 (sys) ms- 1 determined by the analysis of alpha particle tracks from a 210Po source. Three-dimensional range reconstruction and range spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of 222Rn, 218Po, 220Rn and 216Po. This study found that (22 ± 2) % of 218Po progeny (from 222Rn decay) did not plate out and remained suspended in the 40 Torr CS2 gas fill until they decayed. A likely explanation for this is that some of the polonium progeny are produced in an uncharged state. For 216Po progeny (from 220Rn decay) the undeposited fraction was apparently much higher at (100- 35+ 0) % most likely due to a shorter lifetime, causing a larger fraction of the progeny to decay whilst drifting to the cathode plane. This explanation implies a much slower drift time for positively charged polonium progeny compared to CS2- ions.

AB - First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector performance-an important step towards optimising directional technology. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was 59.3 ± 0.2 (stat) ± 7.5 (sys) ms- 1 based on an analysis of naturally occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift velocity in DRIFT-IIb was 57 ± 1 (stat) ± 3 (sys) ms- 1 determined by the analysis of alpha particle tracks from a 210Po source. Three-dimensional range reconstruction and range spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of 222Rn, 218Po, 220Rn and 216Po. This study found that (22 ± 2) % of 218Po progeny (from 222Rn decay) did not plate out and remained suspended in the 40 Torr CS2 gas fill until they decayed. A likely explanation for this is that some of the polonium progeny are produced in an uncharged state. For 216Po progeny (from 220Rn decay) the undeposited fraction was apparently much higher at (100- 35+ 0) % most likely due to a shorter lifetime, causing a larger fraction of the progeny to decay whilst drifting to the cathode plane. This explanation implies a much slower drift time for positively charged polonium progeny compared to CS2- ions.

KW - Alpha spectrometry

KW - Dark matter

KW - Directional detector

KW - Gas detector

KW - Negative ion drift

KW - TPC

KW - WIMPs

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U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.013

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:36749082161

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 584

SP - 114

EP - 128

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

IS - 1

ER -

Track reconstruction and performance of DRIFT directional dark matter detectors using alpha particles

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Keywords

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