Stable operation with gain of a double phase Liquid Argon LEM-TPC with a 1 mm thick segmented LEM

TL;DR

This paper reports on the successful operation of a small Liquid Argon LEM-TPC with stable gain, demonstrating its potential for neutrino detection and dark matter searches through charge amplification and 3D tracking.

Contribution

First demonstration of stable operation with a 1 mm segmented LEM in a Liquid Argon TPC achieving a gain of 6.5.

Findings

Achieved maximum gain of 6.5

Maintained argon purity for 20 cm drift

Recorded cosmic muon data over three weeks

Abstract

In this paper we present results from a test of a small Liquid Argon Large Electron Multiplier Time Projection Chamber (LAr LEM-TPC). This detector concept provides a 3D-tracking and calorimetric device capable of charge amplification, suited for next-generation neutrino detectors and possibly direct Dark Matter searches. During a test of a 3~lt chamber equipped with a 10$\times$10~cm$^2$ readout, cosmic muon data was recorded during three weeks of data taking. A maximum gain of 6.5 was achieved and the liquid argon was kept pure enough to ensure 20~cm drift (O(ppb)~O$_2$ equivalent).