A large facility for photosensors test at cryogenic temperature

TL;DR

This paper describes the design, commissioning, and testing of a dedicated cryogenic facility for large-scale photosensor validation, crucial for dark matter and neutrino detection experiments using noble gases.

Contribution

It introduces a specialized test facility for large-area photosensors, enabling robust validation for the DarkSide-20k experiment's extensive detector surface.

Findings

Successful commissioning of the test facility in 2021

Multiple testing campaigns conducted with detailed results

Facility supports large-area photosensor validation at cryogenic temperatures

Abstract

Current generation of detectors using noble gases in liquid phase for direct dark matter search and neutrino physics need large area photosensors. Silicon based photo-detectors are innovative light collecting devices and represent a successful technology in these research fields. The DarkSide collaboration started a dedicated development and customization of SiPM technology for its specific needs resulting in the design, production and assembly of large surface modules of 20x20 cm^2 named Photo Detection Unit for the DarkSide-20k experiment. Production of a large number of such devices, as needed to cover about 20 m^2 of active surface inside the DarkSide-20k detector, requires a robust testing and validation process. In order to match this requirement a dedicated test facility for the photosensor test was designed and commissioned at INFN-Naples laboratory. The first commissioning test was successfully performed in 2021. Since then a number of testing campaigns were performed. Detailed description of the facility is reported as well as results of some tests.