First demonstration of 3D optical readout of a TPC using a single photon sensitive Timepix3 based camera

Abstract

A : The ARIADNE project is developing innovative optical readout technologies for two-phase liquid Argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). Optical readout presents an exciting alternative to the current paradigm of charge readout. Optical readout is simple, scalable and cost effective. This paper presents first demonstration of 3D optical readout of TPC, using CF 4 gas as a proof of principle. Both cosmic rays and an Americium-241 alpha source have been imaged in 100 mbar CF 4 . A single-photon sensitive camera was developed by combining a Timepix3 (TPX3) based camera with an image intensifier. When a pixel of TPX3 is hit, a packet containing all information about the hit is produced. This packet contains the x, y coordinates of the pixel, time of arrival (ToA) and time over threshold (ToT) information. The z position of the hit in the TPC is determined by combining drift velocity with ToA information. 3D event reconstruction is performed by combining the pixel's x, y location with this calculated z position. Calorimetry is performed using time over threshold, a measure of the intensity of the hit. K: Time projection Chambers (TPC), Noble liquid detectors, Micropattern gaseous detectors, Photon detectors for UV, visible and IR photons (solid-state).

Review of Liquid Argon Detector Technologies in the Neutrino Sector

“…Following from an initial proof-of-concept demonstration conducted on a smaller gaseous TPC [102], a single TPX3-based camera-depicted in Figure 53-has been installed on the ARIADNE detector, directly replacing one of the EMCCDs. Cosmic particle interactions have been imaged, and examples are shown in Figure 54.…”

Molecular sunscreen: water protects pyrrole from radiation damage

“…All ions were detected using a position-and time-sensitive detector consisting of a micro-channel plate (MCP) in combination with a fast phosphor screen (P46). A visible-light-sensitive Timepix3 detector [60,65] in an event-driven mode recorded all signals, which were stored and centroided using our homebuilt pymepix software [61].…”

Novel imaging technique for α-particles using a fast optical camera

“…In the optical regime, good coordinate resolution was obtained by employing a position sensitive scintillation detector based on bundled LYSO crystal fibers, coupled to micro-pixel avalanche photodiodes and read out by a CCD [7] or, later, with an EMCCD [8]. Recently, a fast singlephoton sensitive optical camera, Tpx3Cam, was employed for the registration of α-particles in a gaseous TPC [9] for studies related to three-dimensional optical readout of a dual-phase liquid Argon-TPC (time projection chamber) [10,11].…”