Charge Amplification in Low Pressure CF4:SF6:He Mixtures with a Multi-Mesh ThGEM for Directional Dark Matter Searches

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.17967
• Publication Date: 2024-05-28
• Authors: F. D. Amaro; E. Baracchini; L. Benussi; S. Bianco; Federico Borra; C. Capoccia; M. Caponero; Danilo Santos Car...; G. Cavoto; I.A. Costa; Tom Crane; E. Danè; M. D'Astolfo; Giorgio Dho; F. Di Giambattista; G. D’imperio; E. Di Marco; J.M.F. dos Santos; A. C. Ezeribe; D. Fiorina; F. Iacoangeli; Herman Pessoa Lim...; G.S.P. Lopes; G. Maccarrone; R. D. P. Mano; R.R. Marcelo Greg...; David José Gaspar...; G. Mazzitelli; A. G. McLean; C.M.B. Monteiro; Rafael Antunes Nó...; Igor Fonseca Pains; E. Paoletti; L. Passamonti; S. Piacentini; D. Piccolo; D. Pierluigi; D. Pinci; A. Prajapati; F. Renga; Rita Joana da Cru...; F. Rosatelli; A. Russo; G. Saviano; A. Scarff; N.J.C. Spooner; R. Tesauro; S. Tomassini; S. Torelli
• Keywords: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors; FOS: Physical sciences; Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); Charge transport; multiplication and electroluminescence in rare gases and liquids; Dark Matter detectors (WIMPs; axions; etc.); Gaseous detectors; Micropattern gaseous detectors (MSGC; GEM; THGEM; RETHGEM; MHSP; MICROPIC; MICROMEGAS; InGrid; etc)

The CYGNO collaboration is developing next generation directional Dark Matter (DM) detection experiments, using gaseous Time Projection Chambers (TPCs), as a robust method for identifying Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) below the Neutrino Fog. SF6 potentially ideal this since it provides high fluorine content, enhancing sensitivity to spin-dependent interactions and, Negative Ion Drift (NID) gas, reduces charge diffusion leading improved positional resolution. CF4, although not NID has also been identified favourable gas target scintillation signal which can be used complimentary light/charge readout approach. These gases operate at low pressures elongate Nuclear Recoil (NR) tracks and facilitate measurements. In principle, He could added pressure SF6/CF4 without significant detriment length of 16S, 12C, 19F recoils. This would improve mass, lower WIMP masses, offer possibility atmospheric operation; reducing cost containment vessel. article, we present gain energy resolution measurements, taken with Multi-Mesh Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier (MMThGEM), in CF4:SF6 mixtures following addition He. We find that CF4:SF6:He tested were able produce gains on order 10^4 up total 100 Torr. results demonstrate an magnitude improvement amplification component.