Mainz 2014 – scientific programme
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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik
T 54: Experimentelle Methoden der Astroteilchenphysik 2
T 54.8: Talk
Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 18:30–18:45, P7
WOM - A Wavelength-shifting optical module for IceCube — •Dustin Hebecker1, Lukas Schulte1, Marek Kowalski1, Sebastian Boeser1, and Lutz Köpke2 — 1Physikalisches Institut Uni Bonn — 2Uni Mainz
Current Cherenkov detectors that are deployed rely on single photon sensors based on PMT's. In order to lower the detection threshold. One needs to maximise the photon capture capability, i.e. the effective area for Cherenkov photons. This is of special importance when targeting low-energy neutrinos. Current PMTs have the disadvantage of a high noise rate (800 Hz for IceCube) that increases whith size. The WOM (Wavelength-shifting optical module) now targets this issues by expanding the capture area while decreasing the size of the PMT. Photons are first captured in an organic wavelength-shifting material (WLS) that is coated on waveguiding material to guide the light to a smaller PMT. This allows to achieve a very large collection area and reduces the noise to the order of 10 Hz. Photon capture efficiencies as high as 50% have been achieved and a research program to further enhance the sensitivity will be presented.