Novel wavelength shifting material for UV photon detection

Noble liquids are considered to be used as detectors for a wide spectrum of applications involving precise particle tracking, calorimetry and spectroscopy in high energy physics, γ-ray astronomy, neutrinoless ββ-decay and medical imaging. However, the scintillation light produced by these detectors are in the VUV range which must be shifted to higher wave-lengths for detection by standard photodetectors. The wavelength shifter (WLS) material currently used in most of the noble liquid detectors is 1,1,4,4 Tetraphenyl Butadiene (TPB) which has several drawbacks including instability in noble environments, photo-degradation behavior, and limited stokes shift. This renders this organic compound unusable for long-term applications. Under this SBIR program, we will develop and commercialize a photon detection system based on a WLS candidate that overcomes the current challenges and can be used for long-term physics experiments. The major tasks of phase I would be: (a) WLS material optimization, (b) Deposition and demonstration of the WLS capabilities using a photon detection system (PDS), and (c) Design and test feasibility of the PDS for LAr/LXe detectors.This wavelength shifter-based photon detection system developed under this program will be used for efficient VUV-visible light conversion for scintillation light in all types of particle detectors. In addition to physics experiments and medical imaging, these wavelength shifters have immense potential for commercial lighting applications such as in light emitting diodes.