Measurement of the scintillation resolution in liquid xenon and its impact for future segmented calorimeters
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We report on a measurement of the energy resolution that can be attained in liquid xenon when recording only the scintillation light. Our setup is optimized to maximize light collection and uses state-of-the-art, high-PDE (photodetection efficiency), VUV-sensitive silicon photomultipliers. We find a value of 3.7 % ± 0.4 % at 511 keV, once saturation effects are corrected for, a result close to the Poissonian resolution that we expect in our setup ( 2.8 % ± 0.4 % at 511 keV). Our results in the intrinsic resolution ( 2.3 % ± 0.8 % ) are compatible, within errors, at 511 keV, with those found by theoretical estimations that have been standing for the last 20 years, 1.8 % . Our work opens possibilities for apparatus based on liquid xenon and using scintillation only. In particular, it suggests that modular scintillation detectors using liquid xenon can be very competitive as building blocks in segmented calorimeters, with applications to Positron Emission Tomography technology.
Source: Physical Review Research
DOI: 10.1103/jycz-rqbj
Authors: C. Romo-Luque, N. Salor-Iguiñiz, J. M. Benlloch-Rodríguez, R. Esteve, R. J. Aliaga, V. Álvarez, F. Ballester, R. Gadea, J. Generowicz, A. Laing, A. Martínez, F. Monrabal, M. Querol, M. Rappaport, J. Rodríguez, J. Rodríguez-Ponce, S. Teruel-Pardo, J. F. Toledo, R. Torres-Curado, P. Ferrario, V. Herrero, J. J. Gómez-Cadenas
Language: English
Subfield: Radiation
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,625
OpenAlex ID: W7154466370