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Measurements of the ballistic phonon component resulting from nuclear recoils in crystalline silicon

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters; (United States)
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4060 (United States)
  2. Lockheed Research and Development Division, 3251 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304 (United States)
We present evidence that nuclear recoils in silicon at cryogenic temperatures result in a larger ballistic component of phonons than do equal-energy electron recoils. A 300 [mu]m thick crystal of pure silicon was instrumented on both sides with superconducting titanium transition-edge sensors, and the phonon ballistic energy fraction was determined by measuring phonon focusing effects. Comparison of the data with simulations indicates that this fraction is 1.49[sub [minus]0.26][sup +0.34] times higher (at 68% confidence level) for nuclear recoils than for electron recoils.
DOE Contract Number:
FG03-90ER40569
OSTI ID:
6023077
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 71:9; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English