One of the three x-ray detectors of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment searching for solar axions is a time projection chamber (TPC) with a multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC) as a readout structure. Its design has been optimized to provide high sensitivity to the detection of the low intensity x-ray signal expected in the CAST experiment. A low hardware threshold of 0.8 keV is set to a safe level during normal data taking periods, and the overall efficiency for the detection of photons coming from conversion of solar axions is 62%. Shielding has been installed around the detector, lowering the background level to 4.10 × 10-5 counts cm-2 s -1 keV-1 between 1 and 10 keV. During phase I of the CAST experiment the TPC has provided robust and stable operation, thus contributing with a competitive result to the overall CAST limit on axion-photon coupling and mass. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.
CITATION STYLE
Autiero, D., Beltrán, B., Carmona, J. M., Cebrián, S., Chesi, E., Davenport, M., … Zioutas, K. (2007). The CAST time projection chamber. New Journal of Physics, 9. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/9/6/171
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