Development & Characterization of Electrodes for large-scale Xenon Time Projection Chambers

TL;DR

This paper details the design, simulation, manufacturing, and testing of large-scale high-voltage electrodes for xenon time projection chambers, crucial for dark matter and neutrino detection experiments.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive development process for electrodes on a 1.5 m scale, including successful high-voltage testing and implementation in the XENONnT experiment upgrade.

Findings

Electrodes passed high-voltage tests in gaseous argon.

Electrodes were successfully installed in the XENONnT detector.

Design and manufacturing processes met stringent experimental requirements.

Abstract

Dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chambers are the core detector elements of many experiments that conduct searches for Dark Matter and rare events, as well as in neutrino and high-energy physics. As part of this detector technology, high-voltage electrodes are instrumental for the generation of observable signals and their physical interpretation. Thus, electrode design and manufacturing has to fulfill stringent requirements, and their production is associated with significant engineering challenges. In this work we describe the successful development of electrodes on the 1.5 m-scale, from their design and simulation to subsequent assembly and high-voltage testing in a gaseous argon environment. The produced electrodes were recently installed as an anode and a cathode during an upgrade to the XENONnT experiment.