Optical Readout of the ARIADNE LArTPC using a Timepix3-based Camera

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of a Timepix3-based camera for optical readout in a liquid argon TPC, showing promising results for event reconstruction, energy measurement, and potential application in large-scale neutrino detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optical readout method using a Timepix3 camera for LArTPCs, with detailed characterization and initial results from cosmic muon data.

Findings

Drift velocity of electrons in LAr measured as 1.608 mm/μs

Energy resolution of approximately 11% achieved

Good agreement between experimental data and GEANT4 simulation

Abstract

The ARIADNE Experiment, utilising a 1-ton dual-phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC), aims to develop and mature optical readout technology for large scale LAr detectors. This paper describes the characterisation, using cosmic muons, of a Timepix3-based camera mounted on the ARIADNE detector. The raw data from the camera are natively 3D and zero suppressed, allowing for straightforward event reconstruction, and a gallery of reconstructed LAr interaction events is presented. Taking advantage of the 1.6 ns time resolution of the readout, the drift velocity of the ionised electrons in LAr was determined to be 1.608 \pm 0.005 mm/{\mu}s at 0.54 kV/cm. Energy calibration and resolution were determined using through-going muons. The energy resolution was found to be approximately 11 % for the presented dataset. A preliminary study of the energy deposition (dE/dx) as a function of distance has also been performed for two stopping muon events, and comparison to GEANT4 simulation shows good agreement. The results presented demonstrate the capabilities of this technology, and its application is discussed in the context of the future kiloton-scale dual-phase LAr detectors that will be used in the DUNE programme.