Nuclear recoil scintillation and ionisation yields in liquid xenon from ZEPLIN-III data

作者：Horn M^*; Belov V A; Akimov D Yu; Araujo H M; Barnes E J; Burenkov A A; Chepel V; Currie A; Edwards B; Ghag C; Hollingsworth A; Kalmus G E; Kobyakin A S; Kovalenko A G; Lebedenko V N; Lindote A; Lopes M I; Luescher R; Majewskie P; Murphy A StJ; Neves F; Paling S M; Pinto da Cunha J; Preece R; Quenby J J; Reichhart L; Scovell P R; Silva C; Solovov V N; Smith N J T; Smith P F; Stekhanov V N; Sumner T J; Thorne C

来源：Physics Letters B, 2011, 705(5): 471-476.

DOI：10.1016/j.physletb.2011.10.038

Scintillation and ionisation yields for nuclear recoils in liquid xenon above 10 keV(nr) (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 similar to 40 keV(nr) 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 Si events, is also presented which confirms the main analysis.

• 出版日期2011-11-24