- Main
SENSEI: Characterization of Single-Electron Events Using a Skipper Charge-Coupled Device
- Barak, Liron;
- Bloch, Itay M;
- Botti, Ana;
- Cababie, Mariano;
- Cancelo, Gustavo;
- Chaplinsky, Luke;
- Chierchie, Fernando;
- Crisler, Michael;
- Drlica-Wagner, Alex;
- Essig, Rouven;
- Estrada, Juan;
- Etzion, Erez;
- Moroni, Guillermo Fernandez;
- Gift, Daniel;
- Holland, Stephen E;
- Munagavalasa, Sravan;
- Orly, Aviv;
- Rodrigues, Dario;
- Singal, Aman;
- Haro, Miguel Sofo;
- Stefanazzi, Leandro;
- Tiffenberg, Javier;
- Uemura, Sho;
- Volansky, Tomer;
- Yu, Tien-Tien
- et al.
Published Web Location
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.17.014022Abstract
We use a science-grade skipper charge-coupled device (skipper CCD) operating in a low-radiation background environment to develop a semiempirical model that characterizes the origin of single-electron events in CCDs. We identify, separate, and quantify three independent contributions to the single-electron events, which were previously bundled together and classified as "dark counts": dark current, amplifier light, and spurious charge. We measure a dark current, which depends on exposure, of (5.89±0.77)×10-4e-/pix/day, and an unprecedentedly low spurious charge contribution of (1.52±0.07)×10-4e-/pix, which is exposure independent. In addition, we provide a technique to study events produced by light emitted from the amplifier, which allows the detector's operation to be optimized to minimize this effect to a level below the dark-current contribution. Our accurate characterization of the single-electron events allows one to greatly extend the sensitivity of experiments searching for dark matter or coherent neutrino scattering. Moreover, an accurate understanding of the origin of single-electron events is critical to further progress in ongoing research and development efforts of skipper and conventional CCDs.
Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.