Performance of micromegas detectors in the CAST Experiment

Yildiz, S.C. ; Aune, S. ; Dafni, T. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Davenport, M. ; Fanourakis, G. ; Ferrer-Ribas, E. ; Galán, J. ; García, J.A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gardikiotis, A. ; Garza, J.G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Geralis, T. ; Giomataris, I. ; Gómez, H. ; Iguaz, F.J. ; Irastorza, I.G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Papaevangelou, T. ; Rodríguez, A. ; Ruz, J. ; Tomás, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Vafeiadis, T.

Resumen: CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment is searching for axions coming from the Sun. Inside transverse magnetic fields, axions can be converted into X-rays, which can be detected by X-ray detectors. The expected energy of the signal in CAST is in the 1-10 keV range. Low noise and low background detectors are necessary to increase the sensitivity of the experiment. Micro Mesh Gaseous Structure (micromegas) detectors have been used in CAST since the beginning, providing good energy and spatial resolution for CAST's needs. CAST has been intensely studying micromegas detectors to develop new technologies. Initially, CAST detectors consisted of a micromegas, a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) and a Charged Couple Device (CCD), however the improvements in micromegas technologies encouraged CAST to replace the TPC with 2 new micromegas detectors. In some periods during CAST run, ultra low background has been observed in one of the micromegas detectors and it is being investigated through simulations and laboratory tests carried out at Canfranc Underground Laboratory. If this low background is indeed not a systematic effect, it can open new possibilities on rare event searches.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/347/1/012029

Año: 2012

Publicado en: Journal of Physics: Conference Series 347 (2012), 012029 [9 pp.]
ISSN: 1742-6588

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/ 240054/EU/Novel Developments in Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) for Rare Event Searches in Underground Astroparticle EXperiments/TREX
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/CPAN-CSD2007-00042
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/FPA2008-03456

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Proy. investigación HCA (Dpto. Física Teórica)
Área (Departamento): Área Física Atóm.Molec.y Nucl. (Dpto. Física Teórica)