First operation of undoped CsI directly coupled with SiPMs at 77 K

Journal Article · 20 April 2022 · European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-10289-x · OSTI ID:1864073

Ding, Keyu; Liu, Jing; Yang, Yongjin; Chernyak, Dmitry

Abstract The light yield of a small undoped cesium iodide (CsI) crystal directly coupled with two silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) at about 77 Kelvin was measured to be $$$$43.0 \pm 1.1$$$$ $43.0\pm 1.1$  photoelectrons (PE) per keV electron-equivalent (keV $$$$_\text {ee}$$$$ ${}_{\text{ee}}$ ) using X and $$$$\gamma $$$$ $\gamma$ -ray peaks from an $$$$^{241}$$$$ ${}^{241}$ Am radioactive source from 18 to 60 keV. The high light yield together with some other technical advantages illustrate the great potential of this novel combination for neutrino and low-mass dark matter detection, particularly at accelerator-based neutrino sources, where random background can be highly suppressed by requiring coincident triggers between SiPMs and beam pulse timing signals. Some potential drawbacks of using cryogenic SiPMs instead of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) were identified, such as worse energy resolution and optical cross-talks between SiPMs. Their influence to rare-event detection was discussed and possible solutions were provided.

• Research Organization: Univ. of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0022167
• OSTI ID: 1864073
• Journal Information: European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields (Online), Journal Name: European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields (Online) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 82; ISSN 1434-6052
• Publisher: Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English