UV-Sensitive Solid State Photodetector for Dark Matter Detection Using Liquid Xenon

79574S05 Even though liquid xenon shows great promise for the next generation of dark matter searches, there is no photodetector that could be used effectively in these experiments. Of particular interest are solid state detectors with high gain, low noise, and sufficient spectral response at 178 nm. This combination of parameters cannot be achieved by the currently available detectors. This project will utilize the recently invented mechanism of internal discrete amplification to build photodetectors that meet the requirements of the future liquid xenon experiments. These solid state photodetectors will be UV-sensitive and have performance parameters comparable to those of PMTs, but with some notable advantages: low cost and better energy, time, and spatial resolution. Phase I will establish the foundation for building an advanced photodetector for dark matter detection in liquid xenon experiments. As a result of the Phase I project, a UV-sensitive photodetector prototype with high gain and low noise will be designed and optimized. This photodetector will be fabricated, tested, and further optimized during Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the expected wide use in dark matter detection and other high energy physics experiments, the technology could be utilized in several commercial areas. One example includes the development of biological sensors and analyzers based on sensitive photo-detection. Another potential commercial application is drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, the availability of UV-sensitive photodetectors of the highest sensitivity could be useful in the biochip field, and some optical methods used to identify biological agents and contaminants.