Determine Energy Nonlinearity and Resolution of $e^{\pm}$ and $\gamma$ in Liquid Scintillator Detectors by A Universal Energy Response Model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal, data-driven energy response model for liquid scintillator detectors that accurately calibrates energy nonlinearity and resolution for electrons, gamma rays, and positrons, enhancing detector calibration methods.

Contribution

The work presents a unified model that simultaneously calibrates energy nonlinearity and resolution in LS detectors using diverse calibration sources, including cosmic muon-induced spectra.

Findings

Model effectively calibrates energy response across particle types.

Positron energy resolution can be determined without positron sources.

Monte Carlo simulations confirm robustness and accuracy.

Abstract

Energy nonlinearity and resolution in liquid scintillator (LS) detectors are correlated and particle-dependent. A unified energy response model for liquid scintillator detectors has been presented in details. This model has advanced a data-driven approach to calibrate the particle-dependent energy response, using both the monoenergetic $\gamma$-ray sources and the continuous $\beta$ spectra of $^\mathrm{12}\mathrm{B}$ and Michel $e^-$ induced by cosmic muons. Monte Carlo studies have demonstrated the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed model, in particular, the positron energy resolution can be extracted in the absence of positron sources. This work will provide a feasible approach of simultaneous calibration of energy nonlinearity and resolution for the running and future LS detectors.