SBC-SNOLAB scintillation system and SiPM implementation for dark matter searches

TL;DR

The paper describes the design and implementation of a novel scintillation detection system using liquid argon doped with xenon and SiPMs for dark matter detection at SNOLAB, emphasizing unique design considerations.

Contribution

It introduces a new scintillation system for SBC-SNOLAB with innovative design features to optimize light collection and detection efficiency.

Findings

Effective vetoing of signals using scintillation light.

Implementation of SiPMs in a liquid argon environment.

Design considerations to improve light collection efficiency.

Abstract

The Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) collaboration is constructing a 10~kg liquid argon (LAr) bubble chamber at SNOLAB called SBC-SNOLAB having the main objective of detecting dark matter. One of the most novel aspects of SBC-SNOLAB is the scintillation system, consisting of LAr doped with on the order of 10~ppm Xe, 48 FBK VUV silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), the SiPM electronics, two quartz jars, and liquid CF$_4$ used as an hydraulic fluid and additional source of scintillation photons. In contrast with traditional single or dual phase scintillation experiments, the collected LAr scitillation light is used to veto signals which involve the detection of at least a single photoelectron. These proceedings will describe in detail the current SBC-SNOLAB scintillation system which includes the unique design considerations for SBC-SNOLAB that limit the light collection efficiency and the electronics.