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In the context of the ClearMind project, we measured the scintillating properties, as induced from from gamma ray interactions, of today available PbWO4 crystal. We measured scintillation s yields and time constants by measuring the signal shape measured on a fast photo-multiplier and deconvoluting it from the instrumental effects. For the doped crystals at room temperature, we measured a fast scintillation component, with time constants of 2 ns, 55 percent of the total light yield, and a slow component of 6 ns. We observe a significant increase of the light yield for the slow component when the temperature decreases and simultaneous increase of the time constants, but no increase in the fast component light yield. Our measurements reproduce the main qualitative features of PbWO4 crystals quoted in the literature. Quantitatively though, we measured significantly shorter time constants and larger light yields. This is explained by a rigorous treatment of the instrumental contributions in the measurements. Results are discussed and prospect for future developments, tailored for the ClearMind project, are presented., Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures, Accepted in JInstr

We describe the concept of a new gamma ray scintronic detector targeting a time resolution of the order of 25 ps FWHM, with millimetric volume reconstruction and high detection efficiency. Its design consists of a monolithic large PbWO4 scintillating crystal with an efficient photocathode directly deposited on it. With an index of refraction higher for the photocathode than for the crystal, this design negates the total reflection effect of optical photons at the crystal/photo-detector optical interface, and thus largely improves optical coupling between the crystal and the photodetector. This allows to detect efficiently the Cherenkov light produced by 511 keV photoelectric conversions in PbWO4, and to optimize the detector time resolution. Furthermore, the low-yield, fast scintillation light produced additionally by PbWO4 increases the detected photon statistics by a factor 10, thus fostering accurate (3 dimensional) localization of the gamma ray interaction within the crystal and providing a fair measurement of the deposited energy. This paper lists the technological challenges that have to be overcome in order to build this scintronic detector. We show that all the key technologies have now been demonstrated and present results of a preliminary Monte Carlo simulation, which include an innovative event reconstruction algorithm to support the claimed performances of the detector., Comment: Accepted in Journal of Instrumentation : JINST_054P_0320

We study the possibility to use the Cherenkov light for the efficient detection of 511 keV photons with the goal to use it in TOF-PET. We designed and tested two detection modules consisting of PbF$_2$ crystals attached to Planacon MCP-PMT XP85012. Amplified PMT signals are digitized by the SAMPIC module with high readout rate, up to $10^5$ events/s, and a negligible contribution to the time resolution, below 20 ps (FWHM). We developed a fast 2D scanning system to calibrate the PMT time response and studied in details the timing characteristics of the Planacon PMT. Using a radioactive $^{22}$Na source we measured a detection efficiency of 24% for 511 keV photons in a 10 mm thick crystal and a coincidence resolving time of 280 ps. We analyzed the main factors limiting the time resolution of the large-surface detection module and proposed solutions to improve it, which will be tested in our future project., Comment: Accepted by JINST

CaLIPSO is an innovative photon detector concept designed for high precision brain PET imaging. For the first time, liquid trimethylbismuth is used as sensitive medium. The detector operates as a time-projection chamber and detects both Cherenkov light and charge signal. Indeed, each 511-keV photon releases a single primary electron that triggers a Cherenkov radiation and ionizes the medium. As trimethylbismuth has never been studied before, we measured its free ion yield defined as the number of electron-ion pairs released by the primary electron. To this end, we developed a low-noise measuring system to determine the weak current induced by a 60Co source in the liquid with an accuracy better than 5 fA for an electric field up to 7kV/cm. We used tetramethylsilane as benchmark liquid to validate the apparatus and we measured a zero-field free ion yield of 0.53 +/- 0.03 in agreement with literature. However, we found a zero-field free ion yield of 0.083 +/- 0.003 for trimethylbismuth, which is a factor 7 lower than the typical values for similar dielectric liquids. Quantum chemistry computations on heavy atoms tend to demonstrate the high ability of trimethylbismuth to capture electrons, which could explain this weak value. This recombination mechanism marks a new step in understanding charge transport in liquid detectors. Finally, to verify the detectability of individual charge pulses, we developed a charge pulse measurement system which has been successfully validated with TMSi. Measurements with TMBi are ongoing., Comment: 15th Vienna Conference on Instrumentation (2019)

Spherical Proportional Counters (SPCs) are a novel gaseous detector technology employed by the NEWS-G low-mass dark matter search experiment for their high sensitivity to single electrons from ionization. In this paper, we report on the first characterization of the single electron response of SPCs with unprecedented precision, using a UV-laser calibration system. The experimental approach and analysis methodology are presented along with various direct applications for the upcoming next phase of the experiment at SNOLAB. These include the continuous monitoring of the detector response and electron drift properties during dark matter search runs, as well as the experimental measurement of the trigger threshold efficiency. We measure a mean ionization energy of $\mathrm{W}=27.6\pm0.2~\mathrm{eV}$ in $\mathrm{Ne + CH_4}$ $(2\%)$ for 2.8 keV X-rays, and demonstrate the feasibility of performing similar precision measurements at sub-keV energies for future gas mixtures to be used for dark matter searches at SNOLAB., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D

The CaLIPSO project is an innovative high-energy photon detector concept using trimethylbismuth as sensitive medium in a liquid ionization chamber. The detector, designed for high precision brain PET imaging, works as a time-projection chamber and detects Cherenkov light and charge signal. We measured the free ion yield of trimethylbismuth, which represents the number of electron-ion pairs released by the incident photon. To do so, we developed a low-noise measuring system to determine the current induced by a 60Co source in the liquid with an accuracy better than 5 fA for an electric field up to 7 kV/cm. We used tetramethylsilane as benchmark liquid to validate the apparatus and we measured a zero-field free ion yield of 0.53 +/- 0.03 in agreement with measurements in literature. However, we found a zero-field free ion yield of 0.083 +/- 0.003 for trimethylbismuth, which is a factor 7 lower than the typical values for similar dielectric liquids. Quantum chemistry computations on heavy atoms tend to demonstrate a high capacity of trimethylbismuth to capture electrons which could explain the weak value. The consequences of a low free ion yield in terms of high-energy photon detection and brain PET imaging are finally discussed.

New Experiments With Spheres-Gas (NEWS-G) is a direct dark matter detection experiment using Spherical Proportional Counters (SPCs) with light noble gases to search for low-mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). We report the results from the first physics run taken at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) with SEDINE, a 60 cm diameter prototype SPC operated with a mixture of $\mathrm{Ne}+\mathrm{CH}_{4}$ (0.7 %) at 3.1 bars for a total exposure of $9.7\;\mathrm{kg\cdot days}$. New constraints are set on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon scattering cross-section in the sub-$\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$ mass region. We exclude cross-sections above $4.4 \times \mathrm{10^{-37}\;cm^2}$ at 90 % confidence level (C.L.) for a 0.5 $\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$ WIMP. The competitive results obtained with SEDINE are promising for the next phase of the NEWS-G experiment: a 140 cm diameter SPC to be installed at SNOLAB by summer 2018., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, acknowledgments section updated