Studies Supporting PMT Characterization for the IceCube Collaboration: Precise Photodiode Calibration

TL;DR

This paper presents a precise calibration setup for IceCube DOMs using water-based measurements and NIST-calibrated photodiodes, improving detector response understanding for future upgrades.

Contribution

It introduces a new laboratory calibration method with advanced software tools for accurate DOM optical sensitivity measurement across angles and wavelengths.

Findings

Enhanced calibration accuracy for IceCube DOMs.

Development of modular, automated software for photodiode data analysis.

Refined understanding of detector optical response.

Abstract

A laboratory set-up has been developed to more precisely measure the DOM optical sensitivity as a function of angle and wavelength. DOMs are calibrated in water using a broad beam of light whose intensity is measured with a NIST calibrated photodiode. This study will refine the current knowledge of the IceCube response and lay a foundation for future precision upgrades to the detector. Good understanding of the photodiode readout is indispensable for the DOM calibration. Corrections to the photodiode measurements due to the amplifier circuit were investigated. To accomplish this, a general software structure has been added to the existing framework. Because the set of parameters in the source sector is still growing, modularity and a high level of automation were important objectives. The software features a large array of graphical tools to intercept problems at low level while the analysis can be easily adapted to the needs of foreseeable situations.