Calibration of the MiniCLEAN detector

The DEAP/CLEAN collaboration is constructing MiniCLEAN, a single-phase noble-liquid dark matter experiment with a projected sensitivity to the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross-section of roughly $2 \times 10^{-45} \ \mathrm{cm}^{2}$ for $M_{\mathrm{WIMP}}$ $\approx$ $100 \ \mathrm{GeV}$. The low background nature of MiniCLEAN, coupled with its monolithic self-shielding liquid argon target, makes calibration of the detector a challenge. The MiniCLEAN calibration system will probe the detector's response using external $\gamma$ and neutron sources. Light sources will be utilized to further understand the optical response of the detector. Radioisotope spikes will circumvent self-shielding for low energy calibration, and will also enable dedicated demonstration of argon pulse-shape discrimination using greatly increased amounts of $^{39}$Ar. In addition to probing 3D position and energy reconstruction in MiniCLEAN, the calibration system will also mimic many of the expected backgrounds.