Monte Carlo Comparisons to a Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Detector with low Transition-Edge-Sensor Transition Temperature

TL;DR

This study investigates phonon quasidiffusion and TES response in a large germanium detector at cryogenic temperatures, using experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations to understand detector performance for dark matter searches.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed Monte Carlo model incorporating phonon quasidiffusion and charge carrier phonon generation for a large germanium detector at millikelvin temperatures.

Findings

Good agreement between calibration data and Monte Carlo simulations.

Insights into phonon energy distribution and TES response in large germanium detectors.

Enhanced understanding of detector behavior for cryogenic dark matter experiments.

Abstract

We present results on phonon quasidiffusion and Transition Edge Sensor (TES) studies in a large, 3 inch diameter, 1 inch thick [100] high purity germanium crystal, cooled to 50 mK in the vacuum of a dilution refrigerator, and exposed with 59.5 keV gamma-rays from an Am-241 calibration source. We compare calibration data with results from a Monte Carlo which includes phonon quasidiffusion and the generation of phonons created by charge carriers as they are drifted across the detector by ionization readout channels. The phonon energy is then parsed into TES based phonon readout channels and input into a TES simulator.