Design and Performance of the XENON10 Dark Matter Experiment

TL;DR

XENON10 is a pioneering two-phase xenon TPC detector for dark matter search, demonstrating superior low-energy threshold and resolution, with stable operation over a year at LNGS.

Contribution

This paper details the design, calibration, and performance evaluation of the XENON10 detector, highlighting its advanced capabilities for dark matter detection.

Findings

Achieved energy threshold below 10 keVr

Demonstrated excellent energy and position resolution

Maintained stable operation for over one year

Abstract

XENON10 is the first two-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC) developed within the XENON dark matter search program. The TPC, with an active liquid xenon (LXe) mass of about 14 kg, was installed at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) in Italy, and operated for more than one year, with excellent stability and performance. Results from a dark matter search with XENON10 have been published elsewhere. In this paper, we summarize the design and performance of the detector and its subsystems, based on calibration data using sources of gamma-rays and neutrons as well as background and Monte Carlo simulations data. The results on the detector's energy threshold, energy and position resolution, and overall efficiency show a performance that exceeds design specifications, in view of the very low energy threshold achieved (<10 keVr) and the excellent energy resolution achieved by combining the ionization and scintillation signals, detected simultaneously.