Anisotropic response measurements of ZnWO4 scintillators to neutrons for developing a direction-sensitive dark matter detector. (22nd February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pedersen, Juan W; Sekiya, Hiroyuki; Ichimura, Koichi
• Is Part Of: Progress of theoretical and experimental physics. Volume 2020:Number 2(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02-22
• Subjects: C34 -- C40 -- C43; Physics -- Periodicals; Mathematical physics -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1093/ptep/ptz168
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-3911

Abstract

Abstract: The scintillation yields of ZnWO$_4$ crystals change depending on the incident direction of particles. This property can be used as a direction-sensitive dark matter detector, so we investigated the ZnWO$_4$ light yields ratio of neutron-induced nuclear recoils to gamma-ray-induced electron recoils (quenching factor). Two surfaces almost perpendicular to the crystal axis of ZnWO$_4$ were irradiated with a quasi-monochromatic neutron beam of 0.885 MeV, and the quenching factors of both surfaces for the oxygen-nucleus recoil in the ZnWO$_4$ crystal were measured. The obtained quenching factors of the two surfaces were $0.235 \pm 0.026$ and $0.199 \pm 0.020$, respectively, confirming 15.3% anisotropy.