Implementation of a Low-Temperature Monitoring and Alarm System for the Taishan Neutrino Experiment

TL;DR

This paper describes the development and implementation of a real-time low-temperature monitoring and alarm system for the TAO neutrino experiment, ensuring safe operation and data integrity.

Contribution

The paper introduces a temperature monitoring system based on EPICS with multi-level alarms, tailored for the TAO neutrino detector, enhancing operational safety.

Findings

System operated stably for six months

Over one thousand alarms recorded

Effective in maintaining safe temperature conditions

Abstract

The Taishan Antineutrino Observatory (TAO) is a near-site experiment for the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). Its primary goal is to provide a precise reference reactor antineutrino energy spectrum, thereby eliminating the model dependence in reactor neutrino spectrum predictions and enhancing the sensitivity of the neutrino mass ordering measurement. To ensure accurate data acquisition and safe operation of the TAO experiment, a low-temperature monitoring and alarm system has been developed. Built on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) framework, the system employs PT100 platinum resistance thermometers embedded in the detector to monitor the temperature of the liquid scintillator. Real-time temperature data are acquired, enabling comprehensive thermal monitoring. The alarm program adopts a trigger-based mechanism with multi-level thresholds, providing instant alerts to operators when the temperature deviates from the safe range. The system has been operating stably for six months, accumulating over one thousand alarm records, and has proven effective in ensuring the safe and stable operation of the experiment.