Spatially uniform calibration of a liquid xenon detector at low energies using Kr-83m

0346937 - ÚJF 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Manalaysay, A. - Undagoitia, T.M. - Askin, A. - Baudis, L. - Behrens, A. - Ferella, A.D. - Kish, A. - Lebeda, Ondřej - Santorelli, R. - Vénos, Drahoslav - Vollhardt, A.
Spatially uniform calibration of a liquid xenon detector at low energies using Kr-83m.
Review of Scientific Instruments. Roč. 81, č. 7 (2010), 073303/1-073303/8. ISSN 0034-6748. E-ISSN 1089-7623
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LA318; GA MŠMT LC07050
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10480505
Keywords : DARK-MATTER DETECTOR * NUCLEAR RECOIL * ARGON
Subject RIV: BG - Nuclear, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Colliders
Impact factor: 1.598, year: 2010

A difficult task with many particle detectors focusing on interactions below similar to 100 keV is to perform a calibration in the appropriate energy range that adequately probes all regions of the detector. Because detector response can vary greatly in various locations within the device, a spatially uniform calibration is important. We present a new method for calibration of liquid xenon (LXe) detectors, using the short-lived Kr-83m. This source has transitions at 9.4 and 32.1 keV, and as a noble gas like Xe, it disperses uniformly in all regions of the detector. Even for low source activities, the existence of the two transitions provides a method of identifying the decays that is free of background. We find that at decreasing energies, the LXe light yield increases, while the amount of electric field quenching is diminished.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0187834