Progress on the Characterization of the Yale ``PIXeY'' Two-Phase Xenon Detector

ORAL

Abstract

PIXeY (Particle Identification in Xenon at Yale) is a two-phase (liquid/gas) xenon prototype detector with 3-kg active mass. The two-phase xenon technology has many applications that include gamma-ray imaging, neutrinoless double beta decay searches, and dark matter searches. PIXeY was built to optimize energy resolution and gamma/neutron discrimination, with a number of technological improvements over previous work. Parallel-wire grids, which control the drift and proportional-scintillation fields, are optimized both for light collection efficiency and field uniformity. High quantum efficiency Hamamatsu R8778 PMTs, high-reflectivity Teflon walls, and charge-light anti-correlation techniques are also incorporated. PIXeY will serve as a platform for future improvements, including multiple optical volumes and single wire readout for R{\&}D on gamma-ray imaging and track-imaging studies. The latest progress on the detector will be presented.

Authors

  • Nicholas Destefano

    • University of Connecticut
  • Moshe Gai

    • University of Connecticut
  • Daniel McKinsey

    • Yale University
  • Ethan Bernard

    • Yale University
  • Sidney Cahn

    • Yale University
  • Alessandro Curioni

    • Yale University
  • Blair Edwards

    • Yale University
  • Christopher Kachulis

    • Yale University
  • Nicole Larsen

    • Yale University
  • Alexey Lyashenko

    • Yale University
  • James Nikkel

    • Yale University
  • Yunchang Skin

    • Yale University
  • Christopher Wahl

    • Yale University
  • Alexander Young

    • Yale University