CERN Accelerating science

Article
Report number	arXiv:2411.17934
Title	Demonstration of the light collection stability of a PEN-based wavelength shifting reflector in a tonne scale liquid argon detector
Author(s)	Gupta, V. (Amsterdam U. ; NIKHEF, Amsterdam) ; Araujo, G.R. (Zurich U.) ; Babicz, M. (Zurich U.) ; Baudis, L. (Zurich U.) ; Chiu, P.-J. (Zurich U.) ; Choudhary, S. (Warsaw, Copernicus Astron. Ctr.) ; Goldbrunner, M. (Munich, Tech. U.) ; Hamer, A. (Edinburgh U.) ; Kuźniak, M. (Warsaw, Copernicus Astron. Ctr.) ; Kuźwa, M. (Warsaw, Copernicus Astron. Ctr.) ; Leonhardt, A. (Munich, Tech. U.) ; Montagna, E. (INFN, Bologna) ; Nieradka, G. (Warsaw, Copernicus Astron. Ctr.) ; Parkinson, H.B. (Edinburgh U.) ; Pietropaolo, F. (CERN ; INFN, Padua) ; Pollmann, T.R. (Amsterdam U. ; NIKHEF, Amsterdam) ; Resnati, F. (CERN) ; Schönert, S. (Munich, Tech. U.) ; Szelc, A.M. (Edinburgh U.) ; Thieme, K. (Hawaii U.) ; Walczak, M. (Warsaw, Copernicus Astron. Ctr.)
Publication	2025-05-27
Imprint	2024-11-26
Number of pages	10
Note	10 pages, 13 figures
In:	JINST 20 (2025) C05033
In:	Light Detection in Noble Elements 2024, São Paulo, Brazil, 26 - 28 Aug 2024, pp.C05033
DOI	10.1088/1748-0221/20/05/C05033
Subject category	Nuclear Physics - Experiment ; Particle Physics - Experiment ; Astrophysics and Astronomy ; Detectors and Experimental Techniques
Abstract	Liquid argon detectors rely on wavelength shifters for efficient detection of scintillation light. The current standard is tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB), but it is challenging to instrument on a large scale. Poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN), a polyester easily manufactured as thin sheets, could simplify the coverage of large surfaces with wavelength shifters. Previous measurements have shown that commercial grades of PEN have approximately 50% light conversion efficiency relative to TPB. Encouraged by these results, we conducted a large-scale measurement using $4 m^2$ combined PEN and specular reflector foils in a two-tonne liquid argon dewar to assess its stability over approximately two weeks. This test is crucial for validating PEN as a viable substitute for TPB. The setup used for the measurement of the stability of PEN as a wavelength shifter is described, together with the first results, showing no evidence of performance deterioration over a period of 12 days.
Copyright/License	publication: © 2025 The Author(s) (License: CC-BY-4.0) preprint: (License: CC BY 4.0)

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