The DUNE vertical drift TPC

TL;DR

This paper introduces the innovative vertical drift TPC for DUNE, combining proven and new technologies to enhance performance and simplify construction, with initial prototype results and future development plans.

Contribution

It presents the concept, design, and initial prototype results of the novel vertical drift TPC for DUNE, advancing detector technology for neutrino experiments.

Findings

Successful small-scale prototype tests

First full-scale anode module results

Clear plans for future prototypes and development

Abstract

The DUNE experiment is a future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment aiming at measuring the neutrino CP-violating phase and establishing the neutrino mass hierarchy, as well as at a rich physics programme from supernovae over low-energy physics to beyond Standard Model searches. The baseline technology for the first far detector is a proven single-phase horizontal-drift liquid-Argon TPC based on standard wire-chamber technology. For the second far detector, a new technology, the so-called "vertical drift" TPC is currently being developed: It aims at combining the strengths of the two technologies tested in the ProtoDUNE cryostats at the CERN neutrino platform, the proven horizontal-drift single-phase TPC and the ambitious vertical-drift dual-phase TPC, into a single design, a vertical-drift single-phase liquid-Argon TPC using a novel perforated-PCB anode design. This design maintains excellent tracking and calorimetry performance while significantly simplifying the complexity of the TPC construction. This paper introduces the concept of the vertical drift TPC, presents first results from small-scale prototypes and a first full-scale anode module, and outlines the plans for future prototypes and the next steps towards the full second DUNE far detector.