Recent progress in silica aerogel Cherenkov radiator

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advancements in hydrophobic silica aerogel production, focusing on the pin-drying method for high-refractive-index, transparent aerogels, and demonstrates their effective use as Cherenkov radiators through beam tests.

Contribution

It introduces the pin-drying method for high-refractive-index aerogels and evaluates their optical quality and practical handling for Cherenkov radiation applications.

Findings

High-performance aerogels produced with the pin-drying method show high transparency.

Large crack-free aerogel tiles can be handled effectively.

Sufficient Cherenkov photons were detected in beam tests.

Abstract

In this paper, we present recent progress in the development of hydrophobic silica aerogel as a Cherenkov radiator. In addition to the conventional method, the recently developed pin-drying method for producing high-refractive-index aerogels with high transparency was studied in detail. Optical qualities and large tile handling for crack-free aerogels were investigated. Sufficient photons were detected from high-performance aerogels in a beam test.