Powerful nanosecond light sources based on LEDs for astroparticle physics experiments

TL;DR

This paper presents the development of high-power, nanosecond-duration LED-based light sources with high photon yield and fast emission kinetics, designed for calibration in astroparticle physics detectors.

Contribution

It introduces novel LED-based light sources with exceptional brightness and timing properties for use in astroparticle physics experiments.

Findings

Light yield of up to 10^12 photons per pulse.

Fast light emission kinetics suitable for calibration.

Successful deployment in multiple experiments.

Abstract

Powerful nanosecond light sources based on LEDs have been developed for use in astroparticle physics experiments. The light sources use either matrixes of ultra bright blue LEDs or a new generation high power blue LEDs. It's shown that such light sources have light yield of up to 10**10 - 10**12 photons per pulse with very fast light emission kinetics. The described light sources are important for use in calibration systems of Cherenkov and scintillator detectors. The developed light sources are currently used successfully in a number of astroparticle experiments, namely: the TUNKA EAS experiment, the Baikal neutrino experiment etc.