A Wavelength-shifting Optical Module (WOM) for in-ice neutrino detectors

¹ Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489 Berlin, Germany
² DESY, 15738 Zeuthen, Germany
³ Institute of Physics, University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 7, 55099 Mainz, Germany
⁴ Dept. of Physics and Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
⁵ Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 12, 53115 Bonn, Germany

^a e-mail: dustin.hebecker@desy.de

Published online: 11 April 2016

Abstract

We report on the development status of a single-photon sensor that employs wavelength-shifting and light-guiding techniques to maximize the collection area while minimizing the dark noise rate. The sensor is tailored towards application in ice-Cherenkov neutrino detectors embedded in inert and cold, low-radioactivity and UV transparent ice as a detection medium, such as IceCube-Gen2 or MICA. The goal is to decrease the energy threshold as well as to increase the energy resolution and the vetoing capability of the neutrino telescope, when compared to a setup with optical sensors similar to those used in IceCube. The proposed sensor captures photons with wavelengths between 250 nm and 400 nm. These photons are re-emitted with wavelengths above 400 nm by a wavelength shifting coating applied to a 90 mm diameter polymer tube. The tube guides the light towards a small-diameter PMT via total internal reflection. By scaling the results from smaller laboratory prototypes, the total efficiency of the proposed detector for a Cherenkov spectrum is estimated to exceed that of a standard IceCube optical module. The status of the prototype development and the performance of its main components will be discussed.