Novel Low Workfunction Semiconductors for Calorimetry and Detection: High Energy, Dark Matter and Neutrino Phenomena

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of low workfunction semiconductor materials Cs3Sb and Ag-O-Cs for advanced calorimetry and detection applications, emphasizing their low electron-hole pair energies and suitability for low-energy particle detection at cryogenic temperatures.

Contribution

It proposes fabricating these semiconductors into shapes and volumes suitable for diode or ion detection, extending their use beyond traditional photocathodes for low-energy particle detection.

Findings

Ag-O-Cs has an electron-hole pair threshold of 0.5-0.7 eV at low temperatures.

Cs3Sb exhibits a pair energy of 1.6-2 eV, lower than silicon.

Photomultiplier photocathodes show minimal degradation after high radiation doses.

Abstract

This White Paper seeks to extend the applications of two weakly bound semiconductor materials, Cs3Sb and Ag-O-Cs first developed decades ago for vacuum photodetectors S1, S-11 photocathodes, respectively, proven to have low electron-hole pair energies. Rather than thin film photocathodes, we propose fabrication of these semiconductors in shapes and volumes which could be used as diode or drifted ion detectors for low energy depositions via atom or few-atomic layers. Ag-O-Cs has an e-hole pair threshold pair low as 0.5-0.7 eV deposited energy, practical when cooled below 4 degrees K; Cs3Sb, with pair energy as low as 1.6-2 eV - less than Si (3.6 eV), but with thermal noise at room temperature similar to Si at -30 deg C. Exposure of photomultipliers to 10 MRad doses has shown that thin alkali photocathodes do not degrade more than 2% of initial quantum efficiency.