In the realm of energy research, a team of scientists from the Technical University of Munich, including Klaus Desch, Jochen Kaminski, Christoph Krieger, Tobias Schiffer, and Sebastian Schmidt, have developed a novel detector technology that could potentially enhance our understanding of solar axions and improve energy detection systems.
The researchers have constructed a seven-chip GridPix X-ray detector specifically designed for solar axion searches. This detector is part of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment, which aims to detect hypothetical particles called axions that are believed to be produced in the Sun’s core. The GridPix detector is a pixelated readout chip with a gas amplification stage, similar to a Micromegas detector, built using photolithographic techniques. This technology allows for highly efficient measurement of low-energy X-rays, which is crucial for detecting axions.
To minimize background noise and improve detection accuracy, the researchers implemented several hardware and software vetoes. The hardware vetoes include a ring of six GridPixes surrounding a central GridPix, a readout of the induced grid signal, and two scintillators. These components work together to identify and reject background events, enhancing the detector’s sensitivity to X-ray photons. On the software side, multiple algorithms were developed to distinguish between background events and genuine X-ray photons, leveraging the hardware features for better discrimination.
The detector underwent extensive testing in a long-term background data-taking campaign lasting 3500 hours. The performance of the new vetoes was evaluated, and the detector’s efficiency for low-energy X-rays was assessed using an X-ray generator with eight different energy settings ranging from 0 to 10 keV. The results demonstrated the detector’s high efficiency for very low-energy X-rays and its excellent energy resolution.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are significant. Improved X-ray detection technology can enhance the monitoring and safety of nuclear reactors, as well as the efficiency of solar energy systems. The ability to detect low-energy X-rays with high precision can also aid in the development of advanced diagnostic tools for various energy-related applications. The research was published in the Journal of Instrumentation, a reputable source for cutting-edge detector technology and its applications.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.