Initial evaluation of proportional scintillation in liquid Xenon for direct dark matter detection

The Liquid Xenon Time Projection Chamber (LXeTPC) is often seen as an ideal detector for the direct Dark Matter (DM) search. In such experiments an efficient γ-ray background discrimination is essential. This can be achieved by distinguishing the ionization density, different for γ-rays and Nuclear Recoils. Two quantities are used for this measurement, the direct scintillation light generated by the ionizing event, and the free charges swept away by an electric field before recombination occurs. Present LXe detectors apply the Dual Phase principle, i.e. the charges are extracted into the gas phase and are measured by the proportional light they produce in a strong electric field in the gas. With ever growing dimensions of the detectors it is difficult to meet the tight mechanical tolerances required.