Performance of a chamber for studying the liquid xenon response to /spl gamma/-rays and nuclear recoils

Abstract

The design and performance of a 1.2 liter liquid xenon chamber equipped with 7 two-inch photomultiplier tubes, with the purpose of studying the scintillation response of xenon to /spl gamma/-rays and neutrons, is described. Measurements with /spl gamma/-rays indicate a high VUV light collection efficiency resulting in /spl sim/5.5 photoelectrons per 1 keV of deposited energy. The energy resolution (FWHM) is 18% and 22%, for 122 keV and 511 keV /spl gamma/-rays, respectively. An algorithm for the reconstruction of the scintillation coordinates in (x,y) plane was developed and tested. The position resolution is estimated to be /spl sigma/=6.9 mm for 122 keV /spl gamma/-rays.