Optical scattering lengths in large liquid-scintillator neutrino detectors

M Wurm; F von Feilitzsch; M Göger-Neff; M Hofmann; T Lachenmaier; T Lewke; T Marrodán Undagoitia; Q Meindl; R Möllenberg; L Oberauer; W Potzel; M Tippmann; S Todor; C Traunsteiner; J Winter

doi:10.1063/1.3397322

Optical scattering lengths in large liquid-scintillator neutrino detectors

Rev Sci Instrum. 2010 May;81(5):053301. doi: 10.1063/1.3397322.

Authors

M Wurm¹, F von Feilitzsch, M Göger-Neff, M Hofmann, T Lachenmaier, T Lewke, T Marrodán Undagoitia, Q Meindl, R Möllenberg, L Oberauer, W Potzel, M Tippmann, S Todor, C Traunsteiner, J Winter

Affiliation

¹ Physik-Department E15, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str., D-85748 Garching, Germany. mwurm@ph.tum.de

PMID: 20515130
DOI: 10.1063/1.3397322

Abstract

For liquid-scintillator neutrino detectors of kiloton scale, the transparency of the organic solvent is of central importance. The present paper reports on laboratory measurements of the optical scattering lengths of the organic solvents phenylxylylethane, linear alkylbenzene (LAB), and dodecane, which are under discussion for next-generation experiments such as SNO+ (Sudbury Neutrino Observatory), HanoHano, or LENA (Low Energy Neutrino Astronomy). Results comprise the wavelength range of 415-440 nm. The contributions from Rayleigh and Mie scattering as well as from absorption/re-emission processes are discussed. Based on the present results, LAB seems to be the preferred solvent for a large-volume detector.