High Voltage Insulation and Gas Absorption of Polymers in High Pressure Argon and Xenon Gases

Abstract

High pressure gas time projection chambers (HPGTPCs) are made with a variety of materials, many of which have not been well characterized in high pressure noble gas environments. As HPGTPCs are scaled up in size toward ton-scale detectors, assemblies become larger and more complex, creating a need for detailed understanding of how structural supports and high voltage insulators behave. This includes the identification of materials with predictable mechanical properties and without surface charge accumulation that may lead to field deformation or sparking. This paper explores the mechanical and electrical effects of high pressure gas environments on insulating polymers PTFE, HDPE, PEEK, POM and UHMW in Argon and Xenon, including studying absorption, swelling and high voltage insulation strength.

arXiv commentPrepared for JINST v2: Fix initial submit problem v3: Submitted to journal

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• Radio Frequency and DC High Voltage Breakdown of High Pressure Helium, Argon, and Xenon
• Design, characterization and installation of the NEXT-100 cathode and electroluminescence regions
• Reflectance and fluorescence characteristics of PTFE coated with TPB at visible, UV, and VUV as a function of thickness
• Double Beta Decay Experiments at Canfranc Underground Laboratory
• FAT-GEMs: (Field Assisted) Transparent Gaseous-Electroluminescence Multipliers
• Calibration of a Micromegas-based Gaseous Time Projection Chamber Using Cosmic Ray Muons
• Measurement of high-pressure xenon gas absorption in acrylic
• Development & Characterization of Electrodes for large-scale Xenon Time Projection Chambers
• High Voltage Delivery and Distribution for the NEXT-100 Time Projection Chamber