Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the photon detection system of the ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC, analyzing scintillation light collection, comparing wavelength-shifting techniques, and exploring xenon doping to enhance future large-scale detectors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed performance assessment of the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system and investigates xenon doping as a novel method for improving light collection in large LArTPCs.

Findings

Effective scintillation light collection over 7 meters distance.

Xenon doping shows promise for enhanced light yield.

Comparison of wavelength-shifting techniques informs future detector designs.

Abstract

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a leading-edge experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE-Dual Phase (DP) is a 6x6x6 m$^3$ liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) operated at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. In ProtoDUNE-DP, the scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, we present the performance of the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system, comparing different wavelength-shifting techniques and the use of xenon-doped LAr as a promising option for future large LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and compared to simulations, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.