3D modeling of electric fields in the LUX detector
File(s)1709.00095v4.pdf (4.22 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This work details the development of a three-dimensional (3D) electric field model for the LUX detector. The detector took data to search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) during two periods. After the first period completed, a time-varying non-uniform negative charge developed in the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) panels that define the radial boundary of the detector's active volume. This caused electric field variations in the detector in time, depth and azimuth, generating an electrostatic radially-inward force on electrons on their way upward to the liquid surface. To map this behavior, 3D electric field maps of the detector's active volume were generated on a monthly basis. This was done by fitting a model built in COMSOL Multiphysics to the uniformly distributed calibration data that were collected on a regular basis. The modeled average PTFE charge density increased over the course of the exposure from -3.6 to −5.5 μC/m2. From our studies, we deduce that the electric field magnitude varied locally while the mean value of the field of ~200 V/cm remained constant throughout the exposure. As a result of this work the varying electric fields and their impact on event reconstruction and discrimination were successfully modeled.
Date Issued
2017-11-24
Date Acceptance
2017-11-06
ISSN
1748-0221
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Instrumentation
Volume
12
Copyright Statement
©2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Source Database
web-of-science
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Instruments & Instrumentation
Analysis and statistical methods
Detector modelling and simulations II (electric fields, charge transport, multiplication and induction, pulse formation, electron emission, etc)
Noble liquid detectors (scintillation, ionization, double-phase)
Dark Matter detectors (WIMPs, axions, etc.)
LIGHT
CALORIMETER
CHAMBERS
physics.ins-det
hep-ex
physics.comp-ph
Nuclear & Particles Physics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
P11022