Development of High Resolution Radiation Detector Using Liquid Xenon

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Here we have developed an innovative scintillation gamma-ray detector using liquid xenon to prompt epoch-making progress in the fields of fundamental science where precise measurements of gamma-rays with energies of hundreds of keV to tens of MeV are essential. After successful developments of photomultipliers that are sensitive to ultraviolet scintillation light of xenon (a wavelength of 178nm) under liquid xenon temperature (-lOOC), a pulse tube refrigerator that works efficiently at liquid xenon temperature, and a liquid xenon purification system to remove a small contamination to absorb the ultraviolet light, a 100-liter detector was build and subjected to various performance tests. A stable, long-term operation was established. Using high energy gamma-rays from laser Compton scatterings at an electron storage ring, its excellent resolutions in energy time, and position of gamma-rays were successfully demonstrated. Application of this detector to PET also seems promising. A further development for higher energies is expected.