Light yield in DarkSide-10: A prototype two-phase argon TPC for dark matter searches
As part of the DarkSide program of direct dark matter searches using liquid argon TPCs, a prototype detector with an active volume containing 10 kg of liquid argon, DarkSide-10, was built and operated underground in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy. A critically important parameter for such devices is the scintillation light yield, as photon statistics limits the rejection of electron-recoil backgrounds by pulse shape discrimination. We have measured the light yield of DarkSide-10 using the readily-identifiable full-absorption peaks from gamma ray sources combined with single-photoelectron calibrations using low-occupancy laser pulses. For gamma lines of energies in the range 122-1275 keV, we get consistent light yields averaging 8.887+-0.003(stat)+-0.444(sys) p.e./keVee. With additional purification, the light yield measured at 511 keV increased to 9.142+-0.006(stat) p.e./keVee.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- Contributing Organization:
- DarkSide
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1433329
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-12-619-E; arXiv:1204.6218; 1112742
- Journal Information:
- Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 49; ISSN 0927-6505
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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