FLARES

TL;DR

FLARES is a novel detection technique combining scintillating crystals with silicon drift detectors to improve energy resolution in rare event searches like neutrinoless double beta decay.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of using scintillating crystals with SDD arrays at cryogenic temperatures to achieve high energy resolution for rare event detection.

Findings

Achieved approximately 2% energy resolution at 3 MeV.

Characterized light emission non-proportionality in scintillation crystals.

Tested CdWO4 crystal coupled with SDD array successfully.

Abstract

FLARES (Flexible Scintillation Light Apparatus for Rare Events Searches) is an innovative project in the field of rare events searches, such as the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay. It aims at demonstrating the high potential of a technique that combines scintillating crystals with arrays of high performance silicon drift detectors (SDD), operated at about 120K, to reach a 2% level energy resolution in the region of interest ($\sim$ 3 MeV). The proposed technique will combine in a single device all the demanding features needed by an ideal experiment looking for rare events. The characterization of the light emission non-proportionality of different scintillation crystals as well as a first test of a CdWO$_{4}$ crystal coupled to an array of SDD are presented and discussed.