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Title: Dielectric strength of noble and quenched gases for high pressure time projection chambers

Abstract

Abstract Dielectric breakdown strength is one of the critical performance metrics for pure gases and gas mixtures used in large, high pressure gas time projection chambers. In this paper we experimentally study dielectric breakdown strengths of several important time projection chamber working gases and gas-phase insulators over the pressure range 100 mbar to 10 bar, and gap sizes ranging from 0.1 to 10 mm. Gases characterized include argon, xenon, CO $$$$_2$$$$ 2 , CF $$$$_4$$$$ 4 , and mixtures 90-10 argon-CH $$$$_4$$$$ 4 , 90-10 argon-CO $$$$_2$$$$ 2 and 99-1 argon-CF $$$$_4$$$$ 4 . We develop a theoretical model for high voltage breakdown based on microphysical simulations that use electron swarm Monte Carlo results as input to Townsend- and Meek-like discharge criteria. This model is shown to be highly predictive at high pressure, out-performing traditional Paschen–Townsend and Meek–Raether models significantly. At lower pressure-times-distance, the Townsend-like model is an excellent description for noble gases whereas the Meek-like model provides a highly accurate prediction for insulating gases.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Texas at Arlington, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
OSTI Identifier:
1841026
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1908617
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0019054; SC0019223
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields Journal Volume: 82 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1434-6044
Publisher:
Springer Science + Business Media
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Norman, L., Silva, K., Jones, B. J. P., McDonald, A. D., Tiscareno, M. R., and Woodruff, K. Dielectric strength of noble and quenched gases for high pressure time projection chambers. Germany: N. p., 2022. Web. doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09894-z.
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Norman, L., Silva, K., Jones, B. J. P., McDonald, A. D., Tiscareno, M. R., & Woodruff, K. Dielectric strength of noble and quenched gases for high pressure time projection chambers. Germany. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09894-z
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Norman, L., Silva, K., Jones, B. J. P., McDonald, A. D., Tiscareno, M. R., and Woodruff, K. Wed . "Dielectric strength of noble and quenched gases for high pressure time projection chambers". Germany. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09894-z.
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@article{osti_1841026,
title = {Dielectric strength of noble and quenched gases for high pressure time projection chambers},
author = {Norman, L. and Silva, K. and Jones, B. J. P. and McDonald, A. D. and Tiscareno, M. R. and Woodruff, K.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Dielectric breakdown strength is one of the critical performance metrics for pure gases and gas mixtures used in large, high pressure gas time projection chambers. In this paper we experimentally study dielectric breakdown strengths of several important time projection chamber working gases and gas-phase insulators over the pressure range 100 mbar to 10 bar, and gap sizes ranging from 0.1 to 10 mm. Gases characterized include argon, xenon, CO $$_2$$ 2 , CF $$_4$$ 4 , and mixtures 90-10 argon-CH $$_4$$ 4 , 90-10 argon-CO $$_2$$ 2 and 99-1 argon-CF $$_4$$ 4 . We develop a theoretical model for high voltage breakdown based on microphysical simulations that use electron swarm Monte Carlo results as input to Townsend- and Meek-like discharge criteria. This model is shown to be highly predictive at high pressure, out-performing traditional Paschen–Townsend and Meek–Raether models significantly. At lower pressure-times-distance, the Townsend-like model is an excellent description for noble gases whereas the Meek-like model provides a highly accurate prediction for insulating gases.},
doi = {10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09894-z},
journal = {European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields},
number = 1,
volume = 82,
place = {Germany},
year = {Wed Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2022},
month = {Wed Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2022}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09894-z
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