Development of transparent silica aerogel over a wide range of densities

作者：Tabata Makoto^*; Adachi Ichiro; Ishii Yoshikazu; Kawai Hideyuki; Sumiyoshi Takayuki; Yokogawa Hiroshi

来源：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment , 2010, 623(1): 339-341.

DOI：10.1016/j.nima.2010.02.241

• Aerogel
• Cherenkov radiator
• Space dust capturer

We have succeeded in developing hydrophobic silica aerogels over a wide range of densities (i.e. refractive indices). A pinhole drying method was invented to make possible producing highly transparent aerogels with entirely new region of refractive indices of 1.06-1.26. Obtained aerogels are more transparent than conventional ones, and the refractive index is well controlled in the pinhole drying process. A test beam experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the performance of the pinhole-dried aerogels as a Cherenkov radiator. A clear Cherenkov ring was successfully observed by a ring imaging Cherenkov counter. We also developed monolithic and hydrophobic aerogels with a density of 0.01 g/cm(3) (a low refractive index of 1.0026) as a space dust capturer for the first time. Consequently, aerogels with any refractive indices between 1.0026 and 1.26 can be produced freely.

• 出版日期2010-11-1