Search

Particle induced X-ray emission with the use of focused ion beam (µ-PIXE) utilizing a superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) X-ray spectrometer has been developed to realize light element mapping in the soft X-ray region. A five hundred pixels array of STJ detector has been installed in the µ-PIXE beamline at the accelerator facility in the University of Tsukuba. Performance of a single-pixel STJ detector is tested. The K-lines of light elements C to Al have been separately detected in the pulse height spectra with a broad background, which is attributed substrate-hit events caused by scattered protons and high-energy characteristic X-ray lines. The background is rejected by using the anticoincidence technique or rise-time discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of High Purity Germanium detectors operated in ionization mode at cryogenic temperatures is investigated as an external background mitigation solution for bolometers used in rare-event search experiments. A simple experimental setup, running a 52-g Li 2 WO 4 bolometer sandwiched in-between two 2-cm thick High Purity Germanium cylindrical detectors in a dry cryostat, shows promising rejection to environmental gammas and atmospheric muons backgrounds. The acquired data are used together with a Monte Carlo simulation of the setup to extract the main contributions to the external backgrounds expected in an above ground experiment, such as e.g. current and future experimental efforts targeting the detection of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering at reactor facilities. Based on all these results, a 4 π coverage similar veto system achieving a O (10 keV) energy threshold is expected to achieve a ≳ 73% and a ≳ 92% rejection power for gamma-like and muon-like events, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a global trend to increase the light yield of CsI scintillators used in neutrino and dark matter detection by operating undoped crystals at cryogenic temperatures. However, high light yield alone is not sufficient to guarantee a low-energy threshold. The response of undoped crystals to nuclear recoils at cryogenic temperatures is equally important. A liquid nitrogen-based cryostat was developed to measure the nuclear quenching factor of a small undoped CsI crystal using monoenergetic neutron beams at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL). To minimize neutron scattering, high-Z materials were reduced around the crystal. The structure and performance of the cryostat are described in detail. Using this cryostat, a system light yield of 33. 4 ± 2. 0 photoelectrons per keV electron-equivalent (PE/keV ee) was observed at 5.9 keV ee , enabling the measurement of nuclear quenching factors at very low energies. The results of the quenching factor measurement will be reported in a subsequent paper. Non-negligible negative overshoot was observed in the tails of the observed light pulses. The origin of this issue and the correction procedure are described in detail. This information may be useful for others who encounter similar technical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid state detectors and low-temperature calorimeters are widely employed in rare event searches, because of their excellent sensitivity and consequent low energy threshold. A common procedure to establish the energy threshold is to define the trigger level at a fixed number of baseline standard deviations (sigmas) above the baseline level, typically 3 σ or 5 σ. This is not an ideal option when the threshold becomes a critical parameter for the detectors, requiring an optimised definition of the trigger. Recorded events with a small amplitude-to-noise ratio likely survive the selection criteria of the analysis chain contributing to the experiment background. We present a method to quantify the lowest trigger threshold achievable as a function of the acceptable amount of noise events triggered for the physics case under investigation. We then apply this novel method to existing experimental and simulated data to validate the model we presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed and tested a new way of coupling bolometric light detectors to scintillating crystal bolometers based upon simply resting the light detector on the crystal surface, held in position only by gravity. This straightforward mounting results in three important improvements: (1) it decreases the amount of non-active materials needed to assemble the detector, (2) it substantially increases the light collection efficiency by minimizing the light losses induced by the mounting structure, (3) and it enhances the thermal signal induced in the light detector thanks to the extremely weak thermal link to the thermal bath. We tested this new technique with a 16 cm 2 Ge light detector with thermistor readout sitting on the surface of a large TeO 2 bolometer. The light collection efficiency was increased by greater than 50% compared to previously tested alternative mountings. We obtained a baseline energy resolution on the light detector of 20 eV RMS that, together with increased light collection, enabled us to obtain the best α vs β ∕ γ discrimination ever obtained with massive TeO 2 crystals. At the same time we achieved rise and decay times of 0.8 and 1.6 ms, respectively. This superb performance meets all of the requirements for the CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification) experiment, which is a 1-ton scintillating bolometer follow up to CUORE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators are widely used as particle detectors in particle physics. Scintillation at cryogenic temperatures can give rise to detectors with particle discrimination for rare-event searches such as dark matter detection. We present time-resolved scintillation studies of Cesium Iodide (CsI) under excitation of both α and γ particles over a long acquisition window of 1 ms to fully capture the scintillation decay between room temperature and 4 K. This allows a measurement of the light yield independent of any shaping time of the pulse. We find the light yield of CsI to increase up to two orders of magnitude from that of room temperature at cryogenic temperatures, and the ratio of α to γ excitation to vary significantly, exceeding 1 over a range of temperatures between 10 and 100 K. This property could be useful in separating α backgrounds from the low energy nuclear recoil signal region. We also find the time structure of the emitted light to follow similar exponential decay time constants between α and γ excitation, with the temperature behavior consistent with a model of self-trapped exciton de-excitation. Based on these properties, undoped CsI is an interesting candidate for use in cryogenic particle detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratios of the electron capture probabilities P K , P L and P M of 55 Fe have been measured with a metallic magnetic calorimeter, a specific type of cryogenic detector. The 55 Fe source was enclosed in the detector absorber, whose dimensions were chosen such that the detection efficiency for Mn K X-rays was larger than 99.99%. Since all electrons and photons emitted by the source are absorbed in the detector, the detection efficiency is virtually 100% for K, L and M captures. The energy threshold was low enough to allow for clear separation of the M captures (~ 80 eV) from noise. The capture probability ratios were translated to capture probabilities using the recommended value for the probability of the undetected N captures. The resulting values are in agreement both with the recommended values of P K , P L and P M and with the experimental data of Pengra and coworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive particles with self interactions of the order of 0.2 barn/GeV are intriguing Dark Matter candidates from an astrophysical point of view. Current and past experiments for direct detection of massive Dark Matter particles are focusing to relatively low cross sections with ordinary matter, however they cannot rule out very large cross sections, σ / M > 0.01 barn/GeV, due to atmosphere and material shielding. Cosmology places a strong indirect limit for the presence of large interactions among Dark Matter and baryons in the Universe, however such a limit cannot rule out the existence of a small sub-dominant component of Dark Matter with non negligible interactions with ordinary matter in our galactic halo. Here, the possibility of the existence of bound states with ordinary matter, for a similar Dark Matter candidate with not negligible interactions, is considered. The existence of bound states, with binding energy larger than ∼ 1 meV, would offer the possibility to test in laboratory capture cross sections of the order of a barn (or larger). The signature of the detection for a mass increasing of cryogenic samples, due to the possible particle accumulation, would allow the investigation of these Dark Matter candidates with mass up to the GUT scale. A proof of concept for a possible detection set-up and the evaluation of some noise sources are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core-collapse Supernovae (SNe) are one of the most energetic events in the Universe, during which almost all the star's binding energy is released in the form of neutrinos. These particles are direct probes of the processes occurring in the stellar core and provide unique insights into the gravitational collapse. RES-NOVA will revolutionize how we detect neutrinos from astrophysical sources, by deploying the first ton-scale array of cryogenic detectors made from archaeological lead. Pb offers the highest neutrino interaction cross-section via coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE ν NS). Such process will enable RES-NOVA to be equally sensitive to all neutrino flavours. For the first time, we propose the use archaeological Pb as sensitive target material in order to achieve an ultra-low background level in the region of interest (O (1 keV)). All these features make possible the deployment of the first cm-scale neutrino telescope for the investigation of astrophysical sources. In this contribution, we will characterize the radiopurity level and the performance of a small-scale proof-of-principle detector of RES-NOVA, consisting in a PbWO 4 crystal made from archaeological-Pb operated as cryogenic detector. • RES-NOVA: first-proposed cryogenic detector made from archaeological lead for background suppression. • Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering: innovative way to detect neutrinos from astrophysical sources. • Radiopurity level measured on kg-scale prototype allows supernovae neutrino detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for the neutrinoless double beta decay and the direct search for dark matter particles are amongst the most fundamental questions in astroparticle physics and cosmology. To achieve a high sensitivity, detectors with an excellent energy resolution and highly efficient particle identification capabilities are required. In recent years, cryogenic particle detectors have become one of the driving technologies in these fields. Future direct dark matter search experiments aim to improve the sensitivity for low mass dark matter particles ( ≲ 10 GeV / c 2 ) down to the neutrino floor and the next generation of neutrinoless double beta decay experiments aims to improve the sensitivity on the half-life to ∼ 10 26 – 10 27 years , corresponding to the parameter space predicted for the inverted mass ordering and degenerate mass range. To achieve these goals, significant improvements in detector performance and in radiopurity are required and both classes of experiments can benefit from the strong synergies in the fields of detector development and in the production of high purity single-crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current results of direct dark matter searches are controversial. The long-standing dark-matter claim from the DAMA/LIBRA collaboration is excluded by null-results of several other experiments. However, a comparison of the results by experiments with different detector materials introduces model dependencies. The R&D project COSINUS (Cryogenic Observatory for SIgnatures seen in Next-generation Underground Searches) aims to develop cryogenic detectors based on (hygroscopic) sodium iodide (NaI). If successful, such detectors could be used in future experiments to investigate the origin of the annual modulation signal seen by the NaI-based scintillation detectors of the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. COSINUS detectors should be able to simultaneously detect phonons and scintillation light produced by a particle interaction inside the NaI crystal. This technique allows for an active suppression of β / γ backgrounds as well as detailed studies of a large variety of dark-matter models predicting nuclear interactions. For such kind of studies only moderate exposures of ≲ 100 kg - days are needed. In addition to the projected sensitivities of COSINUS detectors, we also show the result of first tests using (only mildly hygroscopic) caesium iodide (CsI) crystals as target material. For this measurement we achieved an energy threshold of ∼4.7 keV for nuclear recoils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several detectors for the next generation of particle physics experiments will make use of silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs) to detect scintillation photons in liquid Argon. Cryogenic operation reduces dark counts by orders of magnitude, and makes it possible to retain single photon sensitivity even if large arrays of SiPMs are readout by a single amplifier. The total capacitance of a SiPM array with a total area of tens of cm 2 can range up to 200 nF. The series noise of the amplifier is the dominant factor that determines the signal to noise ratio of the readout chain. In this contribution, we present a cryogenic amplifier designed to operate in liquid Argon. The base version has a series white noise of 0.37 nV/ H z , while dissipating just 2.4 mW. Design variants have been also tested, which reduce noise to 0.22 nV/ H z , with a power consumption close to 4.5 mW. The amplifier base design and variants have been tested reading out SiPM arrays consisting of up to 96 6 × 6 mm 2 SiPMs, for a total photosensitive area of 35 cm 2 , demonstrating good single photon sensitivity even at low over-voltage values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the performance of two types of silicon photomultipliers, AdvanSiD ASD-NUV-SiPM3S-P and Hamamatsu 3×3 MM-50 UM VUV2, both at room (300 K) and at liquid nitrogen (77 K) temperature: breakdown voltage, quenching resistance, signal shape, gain and dark counts rate have been studied as function of temperature. The response of the devices to ultra-violet light is also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An evaluation of the behavior of three large cathode area photo-multiplier tubes, Hamamatsu R5912 Mod and R5912-02 Mod, and ETL 9357 KFLB, was carried out both at room and cryogenic temperature, using a 405 nm light source. The main electrical and optical features of the devices were studied; the obtained results were compared with the characteristics of the ETL 9357 FLA tubes, used in the ICARUS experiment. Tubes were also studied as a function of the Earth׳s magnetic field and an evaluation of the quantum efficiency was made in the vacuum ultraviolet light region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillating calorimeters are cryogenic detectors combining a measurement of scintillation with one of phonons to provide particle identification. In view of developing alkali halide devices of this type able to check the DAMA/LIBRA claim for the observation of dark matter, we have simulated detector performances to determine their sensitivity by two methods with little model-dependence. We conclude that if performance of the phonon channel can be brought in line with those of other materials, an exposure of 10 kg-days would suffice to check the DAMA/LIBRA claim in standard astrophysical scenarios. Additionally, a fairly modest array of 5 kg with background rejection would be able to directly check the DAMA/LIBRA modulation result in 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) with pre-ionization was successfully used for metal deposition at very low-pressures by feeding one cathode of a conventional dual magnetron deposition system, the other one being radio frequency (RF) supplied. By adjusting the pulse length and RF power, this hybrid RF/HiPIMS co-deposition process improved the deposition rate of niobium in a-NbSi films as well as the film homogeneity on 4in. Si substrates. Moreover, the films obtained by hybrid RF/HiPIMS showed good response for both superconducting critical temperature transition (Tc) and normal resistivity (R), which compared favorably to films obtained by Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB PVD) and standard DC/RF MS-PVD co-sputtering deposition currently used in the micro-fabrication of cryogenic detector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Metallic magnetic calorimeters are a specific type of cryogenic detectors that have been shown to enable precise measurement of the shape of low energy beta spectra. The aim of their use at LNHB is the determination of the shape factors of beta spectra. The beta source is enclosed in the detector absorber, allowing for very high detection efficiency. It has turned out that the type of source is of crucial importance for the correctness of the measured spectrum. Spectra of 63Ni measured with several sources prepared by drying a NiCl2 solution differ from one another and from theory, whereas spectra measured with electroplated sources are reproducible and agree with theory. With these latter measurements we could confirm the atomic exchange effect down to very low energy (200eV). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The spectral shape of forbidden beta-decays is a crucial benchmark for nuclear physics calculations and has important implications also for astroparticle physics. Among the interesting isotopes in this field, 115In is an excellent candidate, being a primordial nuclide featuring a good compromise among Q-value (497.489(10) keV) and half-life (4. 41 × 1 0 14 yr). In this paper, we propose to exploit a cryogenic calorimeter based on a In 2 O 3 crystal to perform a high-precision measurement of the β -decay energy spectrum, discussing also the results obtained within a preliminary test of this crystal and the next steps to improve the detector performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent results of CERN RD39 collaboration on the development of radiation hard Si detectors operated at low to cryogenic temperatures will be presented in this paper. It has been found, in comparisons of results of simulation and charge collection data of pad and strip detectors, the charge-injected-diode (CID) operation mode of Si detectors reduces the free carrier trapping, resulting in a much higher charge collection at the SLHC fluence than that in a standard Si detector. The reduction in free carrier trapping by almost a factor of 3 is due to the fact that the CID mode pre-fills the traps, making them neutral and not active in trapping of particle-induced free carriers (signal). It has been found that, electron traps can be pre-filled by injection of electrons from the n+ contact. The CID mode of detector operation can be achieved by a modestly low temperature of ≤−40°C and a operation bias of <600V. Results of one CID detector application as LHC beam-loss-monitor (BLM) will be presented. Non-irradiated Si detectors has been shown, with tests by laser using our cryogenic transient-current-technique (TCT), to work quite well at LHe temperature (4K), which are very stable with no polarization and good charge collection efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) are used for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. In our group, we developed an Ir-TES and reported an energy resolution of 6.9 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV (Kunieda et al., 2004). In this study, we have designed a new TES detector using a superconducting tin (Sn) absorber to detect high energy photons over 100 keV. The Sn absorber is coupled to an Ir/Au superconducting film which is deposited on an ultra-thin SiN membrane (500 nm thick) with a small amount of epoxy post (Stycast 2850FT) by handling with a flip-chip bonding machine. The measured energy resolution is 485 eV FWHM at 60 keV and is better than that of HPGe detector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we present a cryogenic performance study of specific optical and electrical components for the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC), a potential far site detector technology of the long baseline neutrino experiment (LBNE). We have confirmed that an LVDS driver can drive a 20-meter CAT5E twisted pair up to 1 gigabit per second at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). We have verified that a 16:1 serializer Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), three types of laser diodes, optical fibers and connectors, and field-programming gate arrays (FPGAs) continue to function at 77 K. A variety of commercial resistors and capacitors have been tested at 77 K. All tests we have conducted show that the cold front-end electronics is promising. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ICARUS (Imaging Cosmic And Rare Underground Signals) is the the largest Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr-TPC) in the world (containing _600 tons of LAr) addressed to the study of rare events and, among these, neutrino interactions. Installed in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (INFN-LNGS, Italy), ICARUS started working gradually since May, 27th 2010, collecting data both from the cosmic rays able to reach the depths of the laboratory and from neutrino interactions from the CNGS beam. The detector, providing a completely uniform imaging and calorimetry with a high accuracy on massive volumes, allows to reconstruct in real time neutrino and cosmic interactions, measuring the full kinematics of the identified particles. The ICARUS technology can be considered as a milestone towards the realization of next generation of massive detectors (tens of ktons) for neutrino and rare event phy sics.In this paper a short description of the ICARUS T600 experiment, detector main features and performances and its first underground results are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A high Light Yield Liquid Argon chamber has been radiated with an Am/Be source for signal-to-background separation level characterization in a Dark Matter Liquid Argon based detector. Apart from the standard nuclear recoil and electron events, from neutron elastic interactions and gamma conversions respectively, an intermediate population has been observed which is attributed to inelastic neutron scatters on Argon nuclei producing Argon recoil and simultaneous gammas from nuclear de-excitation. Taking account of these events results in a better determination of the recoil-like to electron-like separation based on the shape of the scintillation pulse. The results of this recent study as well as from a previous study with a chamber with a lower Light Yield are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) is to search for particle dark matter via elastic scattering off nuclei. The experiment is located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), Italy, and it uses low-background cryogenic detectors with superconducting phase-transition thermometers for the direct detection of WIMP–nucleus scattering events. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The LNE-LNHB is developing metallic magnetic calorimeters, a specific type of cryogenic detectors, for beta spectrometry. The aim is the determination of the shape factors of beta spectra. Our latest detector has been designed to measure the spectrum of 241Pu, a pure beta emitter with an endpoint energy of 20.8keV. In this paper, the detection principle of metallic magnetic calorimeters is explained and a detailed description is given of the realization of the detector enclosing a 241Pu source inside the detector absorber. A spectrum resulting from our first measurement is shown and compared with a theoretical spectrum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to optimize sapphire as a cryogenic scintillation-phonon detector for dark matter, crystals with different concentrations of doping have been studied using continuous X-ray excitation in the 30–300K temperature range. Light yields vary by 20% for Ti concentrations between 10 and 1000ppm at room temperature; they roughly double as the crystals are cooled from room temperature to 45K. From the analysis of the change in the X-ray luminescence spectra of with the concentration of Ti, it is concluded that the well-known blue emission of Ti-doped is due to the radiative decay of F-centers. Recommendations are given for improving the performance of scintillators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cryogenic spectrometers offer an energy resolution an order of magnitude higher than conventional high-purity Germanium detectors, since low-temperature operation reduces thermal fluctuations and the associated noise. They have been developed over the last several decades, initially driven by particle and astrophysics applications, more recently also for material science, biophysics and nuclear science applications. The Advanced Detector Group at LLNL is developing cryogenic Gamma-ray and fast-neutron spectrometers for nuclear diagnostics in fundamental science and national security. They are based on measuring the increase in temperature upon photon or particle absorption with a sensor operated at the transition between its superconducting and its normal state. The approach can be adapted for different types of radiation with the appropriate choice of absorber material. We describe our Gamma-ray spectrometers consisting of a bulk Sn absorber attached to a superconducting Mo/Cu multilayer sensor. The detectors are operated at a temperature of ∼0.1K the end of a cold finger in a two-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator, and have, depending on design, achieved an energy resolution between 50 and 150eV FWHM for energies below 100keV. Here we give an overview about cryogenic detectors for nuclear diagnostics, and discuss the application of this detector technology to the measurement of uranium enrichment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We are studying the operation of silicon microstrip detector with readout electronics in the temperature range from 90 to 130K. The sensor can be operated in the current-injection mode which significantly improves its radiation hardness. A first module prototype has been built, with APV25 readout chips and an embedded microtube, providing efficient low-mass cooling of the whole module with a two-phase flow of or Ar. First pedestal and pulse shape temperature dependencies are presented for this module. We have also built an edgeless test module with two pairs of laser cut sensors, with both angular and parallel cuts with respect to the strips (at pitch). We are studying the efficiency of the microstrip sensors very close () to the physical border of the cut silicon crystal and present here some electrical characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We are interested in developing a photodetector sensitive to liquid noble gas scintillation light which is able to operate in cryogenic environment down to liquid nitrogen temperature (77K). It has to be a simple, cheap and compact device, with a photocathode surface comparable to that of photomultipliers, and it has to be able to produce fast signals for timing and triggering purposes. It could offer a cheap alternative to the photomultiplier use in large volume time projection chambers operating in liquid noble gas. We studied the possibility to couple a standard photocathode to a suitable electron multiplication system in gas. The results of the evaluation of the maximum gain attainable in gas employing pure argon and argon/methane mixture at low temperature are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Applications such as environment monitoring implying alpha emitters activity measurement associated with isotope identification, require high-energy resolution detectors. Conventional silicon detectors are inexpensive therefore widely used, although intrinsically limited in energy resolution. Thermal detection principle of cryogenic detectors introduces a breakthrough in alpha particle measurement. For the first time, spectra with 5.5keV FWHM energy resolution have been obtained for several external alpha emitting sources using a copper–germanium bolometer specially developed for alpha spectrometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The mass density of the universe seems to be dominated by particles whose nature is unknown. As the existence of new particles is postulated not only by cosmology but also by particle physics, there is a big effort to detect them and to determine their physical properties. However, as the interaction rate between Dark Matter particles and ordinary matter is extremely low, detectors have to be extremely sensitive. Low temperature detectors have been developed for more than one decade now and in the mean time have reached the highest sensitivity for direct Dark Matter detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We are developing a photodetector sensitive to liquid noble gas scintillation light which is able to operate down to liquid nitrogen temperature (77K). It has to be a simple, cheap and compact device, with a photocathode surface comparable to that of photomultipliers and it has to be able to produce fast signals for timing and triggering purposes. We studied the possibility of coupling a standard photocathode to a suitable electron multiplication system in gas; this would offer a cheap alternative to the use of photomultipliers. Gas avalanche multiplication at cryogenic temperatures and low pressure was observed in a small prototype chamber. Gains of the order of were obtained in pure argon, while gains up to were achieved using argon/methane mixture in cryogenic environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two crystal bolometers of 1.3kg each, the largest single crystals ever operated with this technique, have been successfully realized and tested below 10mK, in a dilution refrigerator located deep underground in the Gran Sasso National Laboratories. The calibration spectrum, obtained using an external 232Th -ray source, shows an energy resolution of 3–4keV FWHM from 0.5 to 2.6MeV, for both detectors. In the region, a 4.3keV FWHM resolution has been observed on the 5407keV peak due to the decay of 210Po, a natural contaminant of crystals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we report on the design, construction, and operation of a cryogenic system designed to cool a Superheated Superconducting Granule (SSG) detector for dark matter search. The volume accommodating SSG detector is 20cm in diameter and 67cm long. The system provides a lowest operating temperature of 115mK for long-lasting (several months) experiments in the Bern Underground Laboratory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The CRESST Phase II experiment at Gran Sasso is using 300g scintillating CaWO4 crystals as absorbers for direct WIMP (weakly interactive massive particles) detection. The phonon signal in the CaWO4 crystal is registered in coincidence with the light signal, which is measured with a separate cryogenic light detector. The absorber crystal and the silicon light detector are read out by tungsten superconducting phase transition thermometers (W-SPTs). As a result an active discrimination of the electron recoils against nuclear recoils is achieved. Results on the properties of the detector modules and on the WIMP sensitivity are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Several aspects of the analysis of the data obtained with the cryogenic heat-and-ionization Ge detectors used by the EDELWEISS dark matter search experiment are presented. Their calibration, the determination of their energy threshold, fiducial volume and nuclear recoil acceptance are detailed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We study the performances of gaseous and two-phase (liquid-gas) cryogenic detectors of ionizing radiation based on gas electron multipliers (GEMs) and operated in an avalanche mode in pure noble gases. The gas amplification in He, Ar and Kr is systematically studied at low temperatures, using triple-GEM multipliers. High gains, exceeding 104, were obtained in these gases in the range of 120–300 K. Stable electron avalanching was demonstrated in a saturated Kr vapor in the two-phase mode. These results are relevant for understanding basic mechanisms of electron avalanching at low temperatures and for applications in cryogenic particle detectors, in particular in dark matter and solar neutrino detectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High energy resolution and broadband efficiency enable the use of cryogenic detectors in biological research. Two areas where they have found initial application are X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). In synchrotron-based fluorescence-detected XAS cryogenic detectors are used to examine the role of metals in biological systems by measuring their oxidation states and ligand symmetries. In TOF-MS cryogenic detectors increase the sensitivity for biomolecule detection and identification for masses above ∼50 kDa, and thus enable TOF-MS on large protein complexes or even entire viruses. More recently, cryogenic detectors have been proposed as optical sensors for fluorescence signals from biomarkers. We discuss the potential for cryogenic detectors in biological research, as well as the challenges the technology faces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our research group has successfully developed photon detectors capable of both time-stamping and energy-resolving individual photons at very high rates in a wide band from the near-IR through optical and into the near-UV. We have fabricated 32-pixel arrays of these Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) devices and have mounted them in an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator equipped with windows for direct imaging. We have characterized single pixel behavior; we have also begun operating multiple pixels simultaneously, starting the scaling process towards use of the full array. We emphasize the development of a metalized mask for our array that blocks photons from hitting the inter-pixel areas and reflects them onto the TESs. We also present calibration data on detector resolution, electronics noise, and optical alignment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report on the performance of the SHARC II detector, a 12×32 array of ion implanted Si pop-up bolometers. This 384 element detector array was built as a prototype for the High Angular Resolution Widefield Camera for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. We will discuss the design process, the characterization of the detectors, and the performance of the array in the SHARC II instrument. SHARC II is now a facility instrument on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, providing background-limited imaging at 350 and 450 μm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of a large, far-infrared telescope in space has taken on a new urgency with breakthroughs in detector technology and recognition of the fundamental importance of the far-infrared spectral region to questions ranging from cosmology to our own Solar system. The Single Aperture Far-InfraRed (SAFIR) Observatory is 10 m-class far-infrared observatory that would begin development later in this decade to meet these needs. SAFIR''s science goals are driven by the fact that youngest stages of almost all phenomena in the universe are shrouded in absorption by and emission from cool dust that emits strongly in the far-infrared, 20 μm–1 mm. Its operating temperature (4 K) and instrument complement would be optimized to reach the natural sky confusion limit in the far-infrared with diffraction-limited performance down to at least the atmospheric cutoff at 40 μm. This would provide a point source sensitivity improvement of several orders of magnitude over that of SIRTF. In order to achieve this, large arrays of detectors with NEPs ranging from a few to a hundred zeptowatts/sqrt(Hz) are needed. Very low temperature superconducting transition edge sensors and far-infrared “photon counting” detectors are critical technologies requiring development for the SAFIR mission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We summarize a continuing investigation into using ion implantation to alter the transition temperature of superconducting thin films. The primary motivation for the work presented here was to study the feasibility of using magnetic ion doping to replace the bi-layer Tc control process currently used for certain cryogenic detector applications at National Institute for Standards and Technology. The results from work with various ion species implanted into aluminum, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten host films are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cryogenic detectors offer remarkably better energy resolutions than those achievable with conventional semiconductor or scintillation detectors. With the additional asset of a detection efficiency close to unity for low-energy X-ray photons and electrons, these detectors have the potential to perform X-ray, gamma and electron spectroscopy of a hitherto unknown quality, in particular at low energies. Two types of cryogenic detectors are described and the results of prototype detectors are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the framework of the ATHENA experiment a combined tracking and photon detector, operating close to liquid nitrogen temperatures, was developed to determine simultaneously the vertex of an antiproton annihilation and energy and direction of photons stemming from a positron annihilation. The photon detector consists of 192 pure-CsI scintillation crystals (&ap;4 cm3) coupled to 5×5 mm2 avalanche photo-diodes, which are read by electronic chips realised in VLSI CMOS technology. These read out chips are also operational at liquid nitrogen temperature and feature a self-triggering capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we describe some results in the modelling of a Cryogenic Detector. These detectors use the heat generated from an X-ray event to determine the event''s time and position. The model makes the basic assumption that the heat transport can be represented through by linear diffusion process and that the times at which the temperature changes reach the edge sensors can be used to determine the position of the event. The paper develops a finite element model of the device and performs a series of numerical experiments. The results of these experiments are compared with a simple analytic model. Two methods of determining the event position are presented: one based on an analytic solution and a second using neural network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Energy dispersive photon spectrometry is a common analysis technique to quantify radionuclides present in a sample, the analysis is based on the knowledge of the photon emission intensities specific to each radionuclide. Among them, actinides have in general intense emission of L X-rays during the decay. However, their emission intensities are not well known and not detailed in the nuclear and atomic data tables due to the complexity of their spectra that cannot be resolved by conventional semiconductor spectrometers. Using a dedicated high energy resolution cryogenic detector, based on metallic magnetic calorimeter sensor technology, the L X-ray spectra of the decays of 238Pu(α) → 234U, 244Cm(α) → 240Pu, 237Np(α) → 233Pa and 233Pa(β − ) → 233U were measured with an energy resolution between 23 eV and 43 eV (full width at half maximum) given access to an unprecedented level of detail. Moreover, the detector was conceived to provide a quasi-constant efficiency in the energy range of the L X-rays, minimizing the uncertainty for relative L X-ray emission intensities. Prior to the measurements, the full energy peak efficiency was carefully characterized, which enabled the determination of absolute emission intensities, with an uncertainty of the order of 1%. Some corrections had to be introduced using Monte Carlo simulations, in particular to take into account the surface activity inhomogeneities of the sources. Total and group L X-ray emission intensities are compared with the available data and with the recommended values. In addition, nearly 30 individual L X-ray intensities are presented. [Display omitted] • Measurement of tens of L X-ray emission intensities emitted by actinides • A cryogenic spectrometer with an energy resolution of 23 to 43 eV • An intrinsic efficiency close to 100% between 10 keV and 25 keV • Detailed uncertainty contributions from the efficiency and the sources • Comparison of the measured intensities with available data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryogenic macro-calorimeters instrumented with NTD thermistors have been developed for several decades. The choice of the optimal bias current is crucial for a proper operation of these detectors, both in terms of energy resolution and stability. In this paper we present a set of automatic measurements and analysis procedures for the characterization and optimization of the working configuration of the NTD thermistors. The presented procedures were developed for CUORE, an array of 988 cryogenic macro-calorimeters instrumented with NTD thermistors that has been taking data since 2017. These procedures made it possible to characterize a large number of detectors in a reliable way. They are suitable enough to be used also in other large arrays of cryogenic detectors, such as CUPID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]