Properties for liquid argon scintillation for dark matter searches

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the scintillation yield of liquid argon for recoil Ar ions in dark matter detection, using theoretical models and comparing with experimental data to understand quenching mechanisms and field effects.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model based on biexcitonic diffusion-reaction for electronic quenching and compares it with experimental results for nuclear recoils.

Findings

The model matches experimental scintillation yields for 5-250 keV Ar recoils.

Electronic LET is effectively used to predict initial track structures.

Behavior of scintillation and ionization under fields is discussed.

Abstract

The scintillation yield for recoil Ar ions of 5 to 250 keV energy in liquid argon have been evaluated for direct dark matter searches. Lindhard theory is taken for estimating nuclear quenching. A theoretical model based on a biexcitonic diffusion-reaction mechanism is performed for electronic (scintillation) quenching. The electronic LET (linear energy transfer) is evaluated and used to obtain the initial track structure due to recoil Ar ions. The results are compared with experimental values reported for nuclear recoils from neutrons. The behavior of scintillation and ionization on the field are discussed. with notes on radiation physics and chemistry for dark matter searches.