LiquidO’s detection R&D benefits from the construction and data of several dedicated and specialised experimental test benches distributed across our consortium’s institution, typically depending on the speciality of each. These sub-systems are critical as they provide key data-driven information that is used at several levels:
- addressing specific detection and/or engineering features beyond the reach of other prototypes
- provide complementary information for the correct interpretation of the prototype’s data
- provide precious data-driven context for simulation demonstration and its empirical tuning
Another key feature of the test benches is to provide experimental extrapolation capability beyond the scope of today’s prototype limitations, such as size, specific engineering solution, etc. This is particularly important to address key questions such as the scaling of the technology in terms of
- detector size,
- energy range (light level is rather linear with energy),
- opacity range (scattering mean-free-path),
- temperature variations,
- specialised performance such as timing, calorimetry, particle-ID, etc.
When it comes to scaling, the expertise of past experiments using similar or even common technology solutions, such as scintillators, fibres, SiPM, etc, is particularly precious. On this front, our consortium is particularly riched as it holds leading members of many experiments marking much of the most recent history of neutrino fundamental research such as (alphabetically): ANAIS, Borexino, Chooz, Cuore, Daya Bay, Double Chooz, MINOS, NOvA, OPERA, Proto-DUNE, T2K, SNO, SNO+, SOLid, STEREO, SuperKamiokande, and SuperNemo. This is critical as the LiquidO collaboration has a major pool of demonstrated pertinent knowledge, experience, and expertise, including internal insight references, for the LiquidO’s new developments.
Today’s main test bench systems are located in (alphabetically) CIEMAT, IJCLab, Mainz, Subatech, and Sussex. However, others systems are being planned or under consideration elsewhere. Past key results for the development of opaque scintillators have been obtained in collaboration with MPIK.