Studies of Prototype CsI(Tl) Crystal Scintillators for Low-Energy Neutrino Experiments

TL;DR

This paper explores the development and optimization of CsI(Tl) crystal scintillators for low-energy neutrino detection and dark matter searches, highlighting prototype performance and future potential.

Contribution

It presents new optimized CsI(Tl) crystal prototypes and discusses their performance for low-energy neutrino and dark matter experiments.

Findings

Development of 40 cm long crystals.

Optimized read-out schemes for low-background detection.

Prototype performance meets experimental requirements.

Abstract

Crystal scintillators provide potential merits for the pursuit of low-energy low-background experiments. A CsI(Tl) scintillating crystal detector is being constructed to study low-energy neutrino physics at a nuclear reactor, while projects are underway to adopt this technique for dark matter searches. The choice of the geometrical parameters of the crystal modules, as well as the optimization of the read-out scheme, are the results of an R&D program. Crystals with 40 cm in length were developed. The detector requirements and the achieved performance of the prototypes are presented. Future prospects for this technique are discussed.