Electroluminescence collection cell as a readout for a high energy resolution Xenon gas TPC

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 875; pp. 185 - 192
• Main Authors: Ban, S., Nakamura, K.D., Hirose, M., Ichikawa, A.K., Minamino, A., Miuchi, K., Nakaya, T., Sekiya, H., Tanaka, S., Ueshima, K., Yanagita, S., Ishiyama, Y., Akiyama, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 11.12.2017
• Subjects: Electroluminescence; Neutrinoless double beta decay; Time projection chambers; Xenon; Electroluminescence; Time projection chambers; Xenon; Neutrinoless double beta decay
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2017.09.015

AXEL is a high pressure xenon gas TPC detector being developed for neutrinoless double-beta decay search. We use the proportional scintillation mode with a new electroluminescence light detection system to achieve high energy resolution in a large detector. The detector also has tracking capabilities, which enable significant background rejection. To demonstrate our detection technique, we constructed a 10L prototype detector filled with up to 10bar xenon gas. The FWHM energy resolution obtained by the prototype detector with 4 bar Xenon gas is 4.0±0.30 % at 122keV, which corresponds to 0.9∼2.0% when extrapolated to the Q value of the 0νββ decay of 136Xe.