Rayleigh Scattering in Rare-Gas Liquids (CAT#: STEM-ST-0002-YJL)

Introduction

Recent advances in particle/astrophysics have created the need for low-background, large-mass particle detectors capable of measuring very small energy depositions. A number of novel detectors have been proposed to meet the requirements of the search for dark matter in the laboratory, the measurement of the spectrum of p–p neutrinos from the Sun and the observation of neutrinoless double β decay. Many of the proposals involve the use of rare-gas liquids, as this class of materials offers several advantages as large-mass, low-background absorbers. Being inert cryogenic fluids, the liquefied rare gases can be purified to levels not easily achieved in other materials.