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arXiv · 1512.05968

On the Electric Breakdown in Liquid Argon at Centimeter Scale

M. Auger·A. Blatter·A. Ereditato·D. Goeldi·S. Janos·I. Kreslo·M. Luethi·C. Rudolf von Rohr·T. Strauss·M. S. Weber
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Abstract

We present a study on the dependence of electric breakdown discharge properties on electrode geometry and the breakdown field in liquid argon near its boiling point. The measurements were performed with a spherical cathode and a planar anode at distances ranging from 0.1 mm to 10.0 mm. A detailed study of the time evolution of the breakdown volt-ampere characteristics was performed for the first time. It revealed a slow streamer development phase in the discharge. The results of a spectroscopic study of the visible light emission of the breakdowns complement the measurements. The light emission from the initial phase of the discharge is attributed to electro-luminescence of liquid argon following a current of drifting electrons. These results contribute to set benchmarks for breakdown-safe design of ionization detectors, such as Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LAr TPC).

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M. Auger, A. Blatter, A. Ereditato, D. Goeldi, S. Janos, I. Kreslo, M. Luethi, C. Rudolf von Rohr, T. Strauss, M. S. Weber. 2016-03-16. On the Electric Breakdown in Liquid Argon at Centimeter Scale. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221%2F11%2F03%2Fp03017

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