Progress with xenon liquid hole multipliers

Abstract

The bubble-assisted Liquid Hole Multiplier (LHM) is a recently-proposed concept for the combined detection of ionization electrons and primary scintillation photons in noble-liquid time projection chambers. The LHM comprises a perforated micro-pattern electrode (e.g. Thick Gas Electron Multiplier — THGEM, or Gas Electron Multiplier — GEM) immersed in the liquid, with a bubble of the noble gas supported underneath. Ionization electrons and scintillation-induced photoelectrons extracted from a cesium iodide photocathode drift through the electrode's holes and induce electroluminescence (EL) signals in the bubble; these are recorded by photon detectors located closely below the electrode. We present recent results in the development of LHMs, comparing the response of different electrodes to ionization and photon-induced electrons.