Signal and Power transmission over Fiber in the DUNE Far Detector

TL;DR

This paper discusses innovative fiber-optic transmission technologies developed for powering and signal readout of photo-detectors in the DUNE neutrino experiment's liquid argon detector, enhancing coverage and performance.

Contribution

It introduces Power-over-Fiber and Signal-over-Fiber technologies tailored for non-conductive environments in large-scale neutrino detectors, with laboratory and prototype performance results.

Findings

Successful development of Power-over-Fiber and Signal-over-Fiber systems

Laboratory characterization shows high performance of the devices

Prototype testing at CERN confirms feasibility and effectiveness

Abstract

One of the far detectors of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be instrumented with a Vertical Drift Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (VD LArTPC). It will also be equipped with a Photo-Detection System (PDS), which determines the time of interaction of non-beam events, as well as contributing to the energy reconstruction. The characteristics of this new type of LArTPC required an innovative approach to the placement of the photo-detectors. In order to achieve a high light yield and uniform coverage of the detector, the PDS detectors in the VD LArTPC will be placed not only on the membrane walls of the cryostat, but also on the high voltage surface of the TPC's cathode. Such placement enhances the coverage of the PDS but presents an important technical challenge, since the powering and signal readout of the detectors must be done using non-conducting materials. To this end the Power-over-Fiber and Signal-over-Fiber transmission technologies were developed within the DUNE collaboration, opening a door to further enhance the coverage of future PD systems. This document will describe the technical solutions developed to this end, as well as presenting the final performance results from laboratory characterization of the devices and the prototype testing campaigns carried out at the CERN Neutrino Platform.