MoEDAL Experiment Analyzes Radiation Background Using Timepix Detector Network at LHC
Researchers analyzed mixed radiation fields at the MoEDAL experiment using a Timepix detector network from 2013 to 2018 to characterize background radiation that could interfere with searches for magnetic monopoles. The study measured fluences and properties of fast neutrons, hadrons, and highly ionizing particles in the LHC environment. Understanding this radiation background is critical for validating the sensitivity of passive nuclear track detectors used in the monopole search.
A new analysis of the MoEDAL experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider characterizes the mixed radiation environment that serves as experimental background for searches for hypothetical magnetic monopoles. The study leverages data from a Timepix hybrid silicon pixel detector network—the first and only active detector system operated by MoEDAL from 2013 to 2018—to measure the composition, spectral properties, and directional characteristics of radiation fields including fast neutrons, hadrons, and highly ionizing particles. The Timepix detectors provided real-time measurements across different regions of the experimental area, enabling detailed spatial and directional analysis of radiation components. The paper reports the first results demonstrating spatial tracking capabilities, including reconstruction of particle direction and energy-loss profiles. This radiation characterization is essential because these background particles can produce tracks in the passive Nuclear Track Detectors that are indistinguishable from potential monopole signatures, making accurate background quantification crucial for the validity of monopole search results.
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- arXiv physicsCenter
Analysis of Mixed Radiation Fields at the MoEDAL Experiment Based on Real-Time Data from a Timepix Detector Network
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