Vibration-proof high-pressure xenon electroluminescence detector

We have developed a high-pressure electroluminescence (EL) detector consisting of a cathode, 5 drift rings, and an EL-generating structure which defines a sensitive volume of O5cm × 5cm. The EL-generating structure consists of two parallel-plate, chemically etched grids and a high-pressure optical window which is optically coupled to an external photomultiplier tube. Ionizing radiation that is absorbed in the sensitive volume generates electrons, which drift into the EL region and produce an EL flash. The detector was filled with 20-bar Xe gas that was highly purified (>1 msec electron-life time) using a spark purification technique. In order to evaluate the potential for using an EL detector under adverse conditions, we disturbed the detector using a 10 W electric engraver working at 60 Hz. The action of the engraver had practically no effect on spectra acquired from an ²⁴¹Am source.