New Insights into Particle Detection with Superheated Liquids

Abstract

We report new results obtained in calibrations of superheated liquid droplet detectors used in dark matter searches with different radiation sources (n,$\alpha$,$\gamma$). In particular, detectors were spiked with alpha-emitters located inside and outside the droplets. It is shown that the responses are different, depending on whether alpha particles or recoil nuclei create the signals. The energy thresholds for $\alpha$-emitters are compared with test beam measurements using mono-energetic neutrons, as well as with theoretical predictions. Finally a model is presented which describes how the observed intensities of particle induced acoustic signals can be related to the dynamics of bubble growth in superheated liquids. An improved understanding of the bubble dynamics is an important first step in obtaining better discrimination between particle types interacting in detectors of this kind.

References in corpus (5)

• Improved Spin-Dependent WIMP Limits from a Bubble Chamber
• Dark Matter Spin-Dependent Limits for WIMP Interactions on 19-F by PICASSO
• Discrimination of nuclear recoils from alpha particles with superheated liquids
• Response of Superheated Droplet Detectors of the PICASSO Dark Matter Search Experiment
• First Results of the Phase II SIMPLE Dark Matter Search

Cited by in corpus (24)

• First dark matter search results from a 4-kg CF${}_3$I bubble chamber operated in a deep underground site
• Dark Matter Search Results from the PICO-2L C${}_3$F${}_8$ Bubble Chamber
• Constraints on Low-Mass WIMP Interactions on 19F from PICASSO
• Dark Matter Search Results from the PICO-60 CF${}_3$I Bubble Chamber
• Final Results of the PICASSO Dark Matter Search Experiment
• Big Bounce Genesis
• The SIMPLE Phase II Dark Matter Search
• Direct Measurement of the Bubble Nucleation Energy Threshold in a CF3I Bubble Chamber
• Direct Dark Matter Detection - A spin 3/2 WIMP candidate
• Direct dark matter searches - Test of the Big Bounce Cosmology
• Data-Driven Modeling of Electron Recoil Nucleation in PICO C${}_3$F${}_8$ Bubble Chambers
• Bubble Chambers for Experiments in Nuclear Astrophysics
• Fabrication and Response of High Concentration SIMPLE Superheated Droplet Detectors with Different Liquids
• Debris Flows in Direct Dark Matter Searches-The modulation effect
• Determining the bubble nucleation efficiency of low-energy nuclear recoils in superheated C${}_3$F${}_8$ dark matter detectors
• Circular polarization of cosmic photons due to their interactions with Sterile neutrino dark matter
• Big Bounce Genesis and Possible Experimental Tests -- A Brief Review
• Inelastic WIMP-nucleus scattering to the first excited state in ${}^{125}$Te
• On the critical energy required for homogeneous nucleation in bubble chambers employed in dark matter searches
• Low-threshold response of a scintillating xenon bubble chamber to nuclear and electronic recoils
• Searching for universal behaviour in superheated droplet detector with effective recoil nuclei
• Renormalization of the Spin-dependent WIMP scattering off nuclei
• Effective exploitation of a geyser bubble-chamber equipment as a background-free fast neutron detector
• The first droplet in a cloud chamber track