LUX-ZEPLIN

Research group

Research theme

Sub department

About

The Monte-Carlo refractive index matching technique for determining the input parameters for simulation of the light collection in scintillating crystals

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 570:3 (2007) 529-535

Authors:

D Wahl, VB Mikhailik, H Kraus

Abstract:

The Monte-Carlo refractive index matching (MCRIM) technique was developed to determine the physical properties of heavy inorganic scintillators (HIS) which are difficult to measure experimentally. It was designed as a method for obtaining input parameters for Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations of experimental arrangements incorporating HIS in their setups. The MCRIM technique is used to estimate the intrinsic light yield, the scattering coefficient and the absorption coefficient, herein referred to as indirect measurement properties. The MCRIM technique uses an experiment/MC combination to determine these indirect measurement properties. The MCRIM experimental setup comprises a crystal placed on a photomultiplier tube window with the possibility of introducing materials of different refractive indices in a small gap between the crystal and photomultiplier tube (PMT) window. The dependence of the measured light yield on the refractive index of the material in the gap can only be reproduced by simulations if the correct values of scattering, absorption and intrinsic light yield are used. The experimental setup is designed to minimise the presence of optical components such as unpolished surfaces and non-ideal reflectors, which are difficult to simulate. The MCRIM technique is tested on a 1.03×1.00×0.82 cm3 crystal of CaWO4 which is found to have a scattering coefficient of 0.061±0.005 cm-1, an absorption coefficient of 0.065±0.005 cm-1, and an intrinsic light yield of 22700±1700 photons/MeV. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
More details from the publisher
More details

ANITA: First flight overview and detector performance

Proceedings of the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2007 5:HE PART 2 (2007) 1441-1444

Authors:

KJ Palladino, PW Gorham, SW Barwick, JJ Beatty, DZ Besson, WR Binns, C Chen, P Chen, JM Clem, A Connolly, PF Dowkontt, MA Duvernois, RC Field, DJ Goldstein, A Goodhue, C Hast, CL Hebert, S Hoover, MH Israel, A Javaid, J Kowalski, JG Learned, KM Liewer, JT Link, E Lusczek, S Matsuno, BC Mercurio, C Miki, PM Miočinović, J Nam, CJ Naudet, J Ng, RJ Nichol, K Reil, A Romerowolf, M Rosen, D Saltzberg, D Seckel, GS Varner, D Walz, F Wu

Abstract:

The ANtarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) searches for ultra high energy neutrinos interacting in the Antarctic ice cap. It is a long duration balloon experiment composed of an array of broadband dual-polarized horn antennas that had its first science flight over Antarctica in December 2006 through January 2007. ANITA relies upon the Askaryan effect, in which a particle shower in a dense medium emits coherent Cherenkov radiation at radio wavelengths, for the detection of a neutrino induced shower. ANITA is designed to detect-or constrain flux models of-ultra high energy neutrinos created by the interaction of ultra high energy cosmic rays with the cosmic microwave background. In this paper we discuss the detector performance during the first ANITA flight.

Energy resolution and calibration of the ANITA detector

Proceedings of the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2007 5:HE PART 2 (2007) 1469-1472

Authors:

PW Gorham, SW Barwick, JJ Beatty, DZ Besson, WR Binns, C Chen, P Chen, JM Clem, A Connolly, PF Dowkontt, MA Duvernois, RC Field, DJ Goldstein, A Goodhue, C Hast, CL Hebert, S Hoover, MH Israel, A Javaid, J Kowalski, JG Learned, KM Liewer, JT Link, E Lusczek, S Matsuno, BC Mercurio, C Miki, P Miočinović, J Nam, CJ Naudet, J Ng, RJ Nichol, KJ Palladino, K Reil, A Romero-Wolf, M Rosen, L Ruckman, D Saltzberg, D Seckel, GS Varner, D Walz, F Wu

Abstract:

The balloon-borne ANITA neutrino telescope successfully launched from McMurdo Station, Antarctica during the 2006-2007 austral summer. In this paper we present ongoing studies of the energy resolution and system response of the ANITA detector, which provide an excellent test bed for validating the ANITA Monte Carlo and will be of great interest if ANITA discovers signal events. While in view of the launch site ANITA received calibration pulses from two antennas, located on the surface and in a borehole in the Ross Ice Shelf, which facilitate these studies.

Eureca - The european underground rare event calorimeter array

Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter, IDM 2006 (2007) 668-677

Authors:

H Kraus, M Bauer, I Bavykina, A Benoit, J Blumer, A Broniatowski, V Brudanini, G Burghart, P Camus, A Chantelauze, M Chapellier, G Chardin, C Ciemniak, C Copp, M De Jesus, A De Lesquen, H De Schamps, P Di Stefano, L Dumoulin, K Eitel, F Von Feilitzsch, M Fesquet, J Gascon, G Gerbier, C Goldbachi, M Gros, D Hauff, S Henry, M Horn, J Imber, S Ingleby, C Isaila, J Jochum, A Juillard, M Kimmerle, JC Lanfranch, R Lemran, A Lubashevsky, M Luca, M Malek, S Marnieros, R McGowan, V Mikhailik, XF Navick, T Niinikoski, G Nollezi, E Pantic, P Par, L Perevoshchikov, F Petricca, S Pfister, W Potzel, F Probst, F Ritier, K Rottler, V Sanglard, S Scholl, F Schwamm, W Seidel, A Smolnikov, M Stern, M Teshima, B Tolhurst, W Westphal, P Wikus, J Wolf, E Yakushev

Abstract:

EURECA (European Underground Rare Event Calorimeter Array) is a new project, searching for dark matter. The collaboration is comprised largely of the present groups of the CRESST and EDELWEISS experiments and several new groups. The aim is to explore scalar cross sections in the - 10 -9-10-10picobarn region with a target mass of up to one tonne. A major advantage of EURECA is the planned use of more that just one target material (multi target experiment for WIMP identification). In preparation for this largescale experiment, R&D for EURECA is provided through the current phases of CRESST and EDELWEISS.
More details from the publisher

Identification of neutrino flavor in the ANITA experiment

Proceedings of the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2007 5:HE PART 2 (2007) 1523-1526

Authors:

BC Mercurio, PW Gorham, SW Barwick, JJ Beatty, DZ Besson, WR Binns, C Chen, P Chen, JM Clem, A Connolly, PF Dowkontt, MA DuVernois, RC Field, DJ Goldstein, A Goodhue, C Hast, CL Hebert, S Hoover, MH Israel, A Javaid, J Kowalski, JG Learned, KM Liewer, JT Link, E Lusczek, S Matsuno, C Miki, P Miočinović, J Nam, CJ Naudet, J Ng, RJ Nichol, KJ Palladino, K Reil, A Romero-Wolf, M Rosen, D Saltzberg, D Seckel, GS Varner, D Walz, F Wu

Abstract:

The ANITA (Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna) experiment may be the first experiment to identify astrophysical neutrinos of energy greater than 1018 eV. A Monte Carlo simulation has been developed to determine the sensitivity and improve the event reconstruction capabilities of ANITA at energies up to 1021 eV. Charged leptons created in charged current neutrino-nucleon interactions can produce secondary showers when they experience hard energy losses through bremsstrahlung, pair production, and photonuclear interactions as they propagate through the ice. Because the cross sections of these interactions depend on the flavor and energy of the charged lepton, the distribution of the showers can indicate the flavor and energy of the neutrino. Results from the simulation are presented.