Kevin Gauda

The Dual-Phase Liquid Xenon Time Projection Chamber of Münster (pdf)

The presented dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chamber (TPC), an experiment of the Institut für Kernphysik in Münster, is designed as a small-scale version of the XENON100 TPC, which searched for direct dark matter detection. Due to its high atomic number, the self-shielding against gamma-rays and the high purity, liquid xenon is a common material for direct dark matter detection experiments. The Münster TPC contains a maximum of 2.6 kg pure liquid xenon in a highly reflecting polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vessel and is equipped with 14 photomultipliers (PMTs). The signals are analyzed by the processor for analyzing XENON (PAX), which was developed for XENON1T. The path to characterization of the TPC will be shown. This includes an energy calibration with Kr-83m and Cs-137, determination of the electron lifetime and estimation of the light yield. Furthermore, aspects of a secure operation with focus on critical devices will be explored.