innovative STructures for improvEd Light colLection in ARgon-based TPCs

STELLAR (innovative STructures for improvEd Light colLection in ARgon-based TPCs) goal is to boost the advancement of noble gas and liquid optical Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detectors for rare-event searches, with Dark Matter (DM) being one of the most compelling puzzles of todays fundamental physics.

STELLAR plans to contribute to the development of novel amplification structures based on Micropattern Gas Detectors (MPGDs) technology incorporating wavelength-shifting materials, capable of providing improved light collection and greater operating stability at higher gains.

STELLAR programme can further contribute to the understanding of underlying mechanisms of signal formation in TPCs, opening the possibility of studying the electron extraction efficiency and electroluminescence in electronegative gas mixtures.

This is a specially relevant topic considering the recent technological developments observed in DM searches with the use of Negative Ion TPCs, eventually optically readout.

It is anticipated that the floating wavelength-shifting Field-Assisted Gas Electron Multipliers (FAT-GEM) mechanical characteristics and performance, can be a valuable alternative to current amplification structures used in noble-element TPCs for DM searches, for instance DarkSide-LowMass, or currently planned for long baseline neutrino experiment DUNE.