First 3D vector tracking of helium recoils for fast neutron measurements at SuperKEKB

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first use of high-definition gas TPCs with pixel readout for 3D helium recoil tracking, enabling detailed neutron background measurements and potential applications in dark matter detection.

Contribution

It introduces a novel gas TPC technology with pixel chip readout for 3D vector tracking of helium recoils in a high-background environment.

Findings

Achieved background-free nuclear recoil detection above 50 keVee.

Obtained recoil angular resolution better than 20° for tracks longer than 1.7 mm.

Demonstrated 80% head/tail recognition efficiency for helium recoils.

Abstract

We present results from the first deployment of novel, high definition, compact gas Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) with pixel chip readout as part of the BEAST II beam background measurement project at SuperKEKB. The TPCs provide detailed 3D imaging of ionization from neutron-induced nuclear recoils in a helium and carbon dioxide target gas mixture at standard temperature and pressure. We find excellent electron background rejection, leading to background-free nuclear recoil measurements above 50 keVee, despite the extreme high-background environment. We measure an angular resolution better than 20{\deg} for recoil tracks longer than 1.7 mm, corresponding to an average ionization energy of ~100 keVee. We also obtain the 3D vector direction of helium recoils by utilizing charge profile measurements along the recoil axis, with a correct head/tail assignment efficiency of approximately 80%. With this performance, we present comparisons between measured and simulated event rates, recoil energy spectra, and directional distributions originating from beam-gas and Touschek beam losses at SuperKEKB. We utilize head/tail recognition to distinguish neutron components travelling with positive radial velocity in the Belle II coordinate system from those with opposite directionality. Finally, we present a novel method of discriminating beam-gas interactions from Touschek beam losses that can eliminate the need for dedicated accelerator runs for background measurements. This method is still statistics-limited. However, future studies should be able to verify this method, which in turn could lead to neutron background analysis runs symbiotic with normal Belle II operation. The capabilities demonstrated here also suggest that high definition recoil imaging in gas TPCs is applicable to low energy, low-background experiments, such as directional dark matter searches.