Measurement of the low-energy quenching factor in germanium using an Y88/Be photoneutron source

Scholz, B. J.; Chavarria, A. E.; Collar, J. I.; Privitera, P.; Robinson, A. E.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.94.122003

Measurement of the low-energy quenching factor in germanium using an ${}^{88}Y / Be$ photoneutron source

Journal Article · Wed Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Physical Review D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.94.122003· OSTI ID:1423260

Scholz, B. J. ^[1]; Chavarria, A. E. ^[1]; Collar, J. I. ^[1]; Privitera, P. ^[1]; Robinson, A. E. ^[2]

Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States)
Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Here, we employ an ⁸⁸Y/Be photoneutron source to derive the quenching factor for neutron-induced nuclear recoils in germanium, probing recoil energies from a few hundred eV_nr to 8.5 keV_nr. A comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation of our setup is compared to experimental data employing a Lindhard model with a free electronic energy loss k and an adiabatic correction for sub-keV_nr nuclear recoils. The best fit k = 0.179 ± 0.001 obtained using a Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) ensemble sampler is in good agreement with previous measurements, confirming the adequacy of the Lindhard model to describe the stopping of few-keV ions in germanium crystals at a temperature of ~77 K. This value of k corresponds to a quenching factor of 13.7% to 25.3% for nuclear recoil energies between 0.3 and 8.5 keV_nr, respectively.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11359

OSTI ID:: 1423260

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1336976

Report Number(s):: FERMILAB-PUB--16-762-AE; arXiv:1608.03588; 1481014

Journal Information:: Physical Review D, Journal Name: Physical Review D Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 94; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Measurement of the low-energy quenching factor in germanium using an Y88 /Be photoneutron source

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Measurement of the low-energy quenching factor in germanium using an ${}^{88}Y / Be$ photoneutron source