2011/06/30 by M. Horn, V. A. Belov, V. Belov +48 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Chemistry #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Detector #Ionization #Liquid scintillation counting #Monte Carlo method #Neutron #Nuclear physics #Optics #Photomultiplier #Physics #Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies #Radiochemistry #Recoil #Scintillation #Scintillation counter #Scintillator #Xenon #Yield (engineering) #hep-ex #physics.ins-det
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2011.10.038
7 pages, 7 figures
arxiv created 2011/10/17 · openalex publication_date 2011/10/24 · arxiv updated 2015/05/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Scintillation and ionisation yields for nuclear recoils in liquid xenon above 10 keVnr (nuclear recoil energy) are deduced from data acquired using broadband Am–Be neutron sources. The nuclear recoil data from several exposures to two sources were compared to detailed simulations. Energy-dependent scintillation and ionisation yields giving acceptable fits to the data were derived. Efficiency and resolution effects are treated using a light collection Monte Carlo, measured photomultiplier response profiles and hardware trigger studies. A gradual fall in scintillation yield below ∼40 keVnr is found, together with a rising ionisation yield; both are in agreement with the latest independent measurements. The analysis method is applied to the most recent ZEPLIN-III data, acquired with a significantly upgraded detector and a precision-calibrated Am–Be source, as well as to the earlier data from the first run in 2008. A new method for deriving the recoil scintillation yield, which includes sub-threshold S1 events, is also presented which confirms the main analysis.