Electroluminescence and charge multiplication in liquid xenon with a VCC-like Microstrip Plate
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We report on the first observation of electroluminescence and charge amplification with a Virtual Cathode Chamber (VCC) microstrips plate immersed in liquid xenon. Both were observed in an intense non-uniform electric field in the vicinity of 2-μm narrow anode strips deposited, with a 2 mm pitch, on a semiconductive glass substrate (S8900), with a cathode film on its backside. An initial light yield of ∼ 460 VUV photons per drifting electron was measured, which degraded within tens of minutes stabilizing at (27.0 ± 3.1) photons per electron. The electroluminescence was accompanied by electron multiplication with an estimated charge gain ≲ 5. Further investigations are necessary to understand and mitigate the light yield degradation phenomenon. We expect other substrate materials, including VUV-transparent ones, to provide large stable photon yields, compatible with our model predictions. The VCC configuration has demonstrated great potential in single-phase noble-liquid detectors, particularly for dark-matter searches, neutrino physics and other fields.
Source: Journal of Instrumentation
Authors: G. Martínez-Lema, V. Chepel, A. Breskin
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W4414858102
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