Calibration of a Liquid Xenon Detector with Kr-83m

TL;DR

This paper describes the development of a Kr-83m calibration source for liquid xenon detectors, enabling precise low-energy response characterization crucial for dark matter searches and fluid dynamics studies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Kr-83m source produced via Rb-83 decay and demonstrates its application in calibrating liquid xenon detectors at low energies.

Findings

Successful production of Kr-83m source from Rb-83 decay

Detection of 9.4 keV and 32.1 keV conversion electrons

Potential applications in dark matter detection and fluid dynamics

Abstract

We report the preparation of a Kr-83m source and its subsequent use in calibrating a liquid xenon detector. Kr-83m atoms were produced through the decay of Rb-83 atoms trapped in zeolite molecular sieve and were then introduced into liquid xenon. Decaying Kr-83m nuclei were detected through liquid xenon scintillation. Conversion electrons with energies of 9.4 keV and 32.1 keV from the decay of Kr-83m were both observed. This calibration source will allow the characterization of the scintillation and ionization response of noble liquid detectors at low energies, highly valuable for the search for WIMP dark matter. Kr-83m may also be useful for measuring fluid flow dynamics, both to understand purification in noble liquid-based particle detectors, as well as for studies of classical and quantum turbulence in superfluid helium.