Negative ion Time Projection Chamber operation with SF${}_6$ at nearly atmospheric pressure

Abstract

We present measurements of drift velocities and mobilities of some innovative negative ion gas mixtures at nearly atmospheric pressure based on SF${}_6$ as electronegative capture agent and of pure SF${}_6$ at various pressures, performed with the NITEC detector. NITEC is a Time Projection Chamber with 5 cm drift distance readout by a GEMPix, a triple thin GEMs coupled to a Quad-Timepix chip, directly sensitive to the deposited charge on each of the 55 $\times$ 55 $\mu$m${}^2$ pixel. Our results contribute to expanding the knowledge on the innovative use of SF${}_6$ as negative ion gas and extend to triple thin GEMs the possibility of negative ion operation for the first time. Above all, our findings show the feasibility of negative ion operation with He:CF${}_4$:SF${}_6$ at 610 Torr, opening extremely interesting possibility for next generation directional Dark Matter detectors at 1 bar.

References in corpus (4)

• Low Threshold Results and Limits from the DRIFT Directional Dark Matter Detector
• The novel properties of SF${}_6$ for directional dark matter experiments
• A Background-Free Direction-Sensitive Neutron Detector2 A Background-Free Direction-Sensitive Neutron Detector
• Absolute Position Measurement in a Gas Time Projection Chamber via Transverse Diffusion of Drift Charge

Cited by in corpus (8)

• The CYGNO Experiment
• CYGNO: a gaseous TPC with optical readout for dark matter directional search
• Identification of low energy nuclear recoils in a gas TPC with optical readout
• Development of a Negative Ion Micro TPC Detector with SF${}_6$ Gas for the Directional Dark Matter Search
• Graphene-based detectors for directional dark matter detection
• Performance of an optically read out time projection chamber with ultra-relativistic electrons
• CYG$\nu$S: Detecting solar neutrinos with directional gas time projection chambers
• A 1 m${}^3$ Gas Time Projection Chamber with Optical Readout for Directional Dark Matter Searches: the CYGNO Experiment