Design and production of the high voltage electrode grids and electron extraction region for the LZ dual-phase xenon time projection chamber

TL;DR

This paper details the design, production, and validation of high-voltage electrode grids for the LZ dual-phase xenon TPC, crucial for maintaining high electric fields in dark matter detection experiments.

Contribution

It introduces the specific design and manufacturing process of the LZ high-voltage grids, focusing on the electron extraction region for improved TPC performance.

Findings

Successful production of the LZ electrode grids.

Validation procedures confirmed grid quality and performance.

Design considerations optimized for high electric fields.

Abstract

The dual-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC) is a powerful tool for direct-detection experiments searching for WIMP dark matter, other dark matter models, and neutrinoless double-beta decay. Successful operation of such a TPC is critically dependent on the ability to hold high electric fields in the bulk liquid, across the liquid surface, and in the gas. Careful design and construction of the electrodes used to establish these fields is therefore required. We present the design and production of the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment's high-voltage electrodes, a set of four woven mesh wire grids. Grid design drivers are discussed, with emphasis placed on design of the electron extraction region. We follow this with a description of the grid production process and a discussion of steps taken to validate the LZ grids prior to integration into the TPC.