Absolute measurement of the Fano factor using a Skipper-CCD

Abstract

Skipper-CCD can achieve deep sub-electron readout noise making possible the absolute determination of the exact number of ionized electrons in a large range, from 0 to above 1900 electrons. In this work we present a novel technique that exploits this unique capability to allow self-calibration and the ultimate determination of silicon properties. We performed an absolute measurement of the variance and the mean number of the charge distribution produced by ${}^{55}$Fe X-rays, getting a Fano factor absolute measurement in Si at 123K and 5.9 keV. A value of 0.119 $\pm$ 0.002 was found and the electron-hole pair creation energy was determined to be (3.749 $\pm$ 0.001) eV. This technology opens the opportunity for direct measurements of the Fano factor at low energies.

six pages, five figures, three tables, one equation