Testing of High Voltage Surge Protection Devices for Use in Liquid Argon TPC Detectors

TL;DR

This study evaluates high voltage surge protection devices, specifically varistors and gas discharge tubes, for their effectiveness and safety in liquid argon TPC detectors under cryogenic conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the suitability of these devices for cryogenic high voltage surge protection in liquid argon detectors, including their behavior and robustness at 90 K.

Findings

Devices effectively protect components during high voltage discharges.

No significant argon contamination or light emission impacts.

Both devices are suitable for cryogenic surge protection.

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate the capability of high voltage varistors and gas discharge tube arrestors for use as surge protection devices in liquid argon time projection chamber detectors. The insulating and clamping behavior of each type of device is characterized in air (room temperature), and liquid argon (90~K), and their robustness under high voltage and high energy surges in cryogenic conditions is verified. The protection of vulnerable components in liquid argon during a 150 kV high voltage discharge is also demonstrated. Each device is tested for argon contamination and light emission effects, and both are constrained to levels where no significant impact upon liquid argon time projection chamber functionality is expected. Both devices investigated are shown to be suitable for HV surge protection applications in cryogenic detectors.