Impact of extreme ultraviolet radiation on the scintillation of pure and xenon-doped liquid argon

The Xenon-Argon Technology (X-ArT) Collaboration presents a study on the dynamics of pure and xenon-doped liquid argon (LAr) scintillation. Using two types of silicon photomultipliers sensitive to different wavelength ranges, we provide evidence in favor of a contribution from long-lived (<a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:mrow><a:mo>&gt;</a:mo><a:mrow><a:mn>10</a:mn><a:mtext> </a:mtext><a:mtext> </a:mtext><a:mi mathvariant="normal">μ</a:mi><a:mi mathvariant="normal">s</a:mi></a:mrow></a:mrow></a:math>) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lines emitted from argon atomic states, which enhances the light yield. This component is present in both pure and xenon-doped LAr, becoming more pronounced at higher xenon concentrations, where it complements the traditional collisional energy transfer process. To explain this mechanism, we develop a comprehensive model of the Xe-doped LAr scintillation process that integrates both collisional and radiative contributions. Additionally, we investigate how xenon doping affects LAr scintillation light yield and pulse shape discrimination. Finally, we hypothesize that the EUV component may explain the emission of spurious electrons, a known challenge in light dark matter searches using noble liquids. By characterizing the scintillation dynamics in Xe-doped LAr, identifying the long-lived EUV component, and exploring the potential origin of spurious electrons, this work lays the groundwork for optimizing detector performance and advancing the design and sensitivity of future noble liquid particle detectors.

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Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2025-05-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.111.102001
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.25

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article

Impact of extreme ultraviolet radiation on the scintillation of pure and xenon-doped liquid argon

A. Sung, C. Hidalgo, A. Jamil, Damien Pailot et al.
1 citations
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
1.25
article

Impact of extreme ultraviolet radiation on the scintillation of pure and xenon-doped liquid argon

A. Sung, C. Hidalgo, A. Jamil, Damien Pailot, Y. P. Zhang, Marco Campestrini, Jean-Marc Simon, M. Caravati, P. Agnes, A.F.V. Cortez, Paolo Stringari, H. Vieira de Souza, C. Galbiati, G. K. Giovanetti, Pablo Kunzé, D. Franco, Salem Hoceini, M. Wada, Céline Houriez, E. Pantic, E. Nikoloudaki, Janna Machts, Yi Wang, C. Savarese, M. Bomben, T. Hessel, L. Scotto Lavina, Q. Berger
article en
1 citations

Abstract

The Xenon-Argon Technology (X-ArT) Collaboration presents a study on the dynamics of pure and xenon-doped liquid argon (LAr) scintillation. Using two types of silicon photomultipliers sensitive to different wavelength ranges, we provide evidence in favor of a contribution from long-lived (<a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:mrow><a:mo>&gt;</a:mo><a:mrow><a:mn>10</a:mn><a:mtext> </a:mtext><a:mtext> </a:mtext><a:mi mathvariant="normal">μ</a:mi><a:mi mathvariant="normal">s</a:mi></a:mrow></a:mrow></a:math>) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lines emitted from argon atomic states, which enhances the light yield. This component is present in both pure and xenon-doped LAr, becoming more pronounced at higher xenon concentrations, where it complements the traditional collisional energy transfer process. To explain this mechanism, we develop a comprehensive model of the Xe-doped LAr scintillation process that integrates both collisional and radiative contributions. Additionally, we investigate how xenon doping affects LAr scintillation light yield and pulse shape discrimination. Finally, we hypothesize that the EUV component may explain the emission of spurious electrons, a known challenge in light dark matter searches using noble liquids. By characterizing the scintillation dynamics in Xe-doped LAr, identifying the long-lived EUV component, and exploring the potential origin of spurious electrons, this work lays the groundwork for optimizing detector performance and advancing the design and sensitivity of future noble liquid particle detectors.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 111(10)
Délégation Paris 7 (FR), Université de Bourgogne (FR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Princeton University (US), University of Washington (US), Université Paris Cité (FR), Williams College (US), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR), University of California System (US), Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies (FR), Agence Parisienne du Climat (FR), Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (PL), Gran Sasso Science Institute (IT), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (FR), Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Universität Hamburg, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, European Regional Development Fund, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
1.25
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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