New gas mixtures suitable for rare event detection using a Micromegas-TPC detector

TL;DR

This paper explores new gas mixtures, especially xenon-based ones, for Micromegas-TPC detectors to enhance rare event detection capabilities like neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter searches.

Contribution

It introduces optimized xenon-based gas mixtures and configurations for Micromegas-TPC detectors, improving energy resolution and reducing attachment for rare event detection.

Findings

Xenon admixture reduces attachment in CF4.

Optimized configurations achieve high gas gain.

Suitable for neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter detection.

Abstract

The aim of the presented work was to develop further techniques based on a Micromegas-TPC, in order to reach a high gas gain with good energy resolution, and to search for gas mixtures suitable for rare event detection. This paper focuses on xenon, which is convenient for the search of neutrinoless double beta decay in 136 Xe. Conversely, a small admixture of xenon to CF 4 can reduce attachment in the latter. This gas mixture would be suitable for dark matter searches and the study of solar and reactor neutrinos. Various configurations of the Micromegas plane were investigated and are described.