Modelling Sensor Performances Across Applied Voltages in the NEWS-G Experiment

NEWS-G ( New Experiments With Spheres - Gas ) is a dark matter direct detection experiment at SNOLAB. The experiment uses a multi-anode sensor to attract ionization electrons created from interactions within the gas filled detector. When close to the sensor, the electrons trigger an avalanche effect, causing an amplified signal which is recorded by the experiment and analysed. By applying varying voltages to the supporting structure of the sensor, the electric field within the detector can be increased, changing the electron drift. I model proposed sensor geometries, creating a scaled version of the detector currently in the SNOLAB experiment. By placing various voltages on the sensor structures, I investigate the resultant electric field as well as the percentage of signal lost from the anodes as the electric field changes. I have modelled and presented the impact of an altered electric potential placed on the sensor and the impact of various sensor size adjustments. My work will allow NEWS-G to investigate novel sensor geometries within the detector.