Performance of a segmented $^{6}$Li-loaded liquid scintillator detector for the PROSPECT experiment

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This paper describes the design and performance of a 50 liter, two-segment $^{6}$Li-loaded liquid scintillator detector that was designed and operated as prototype for the PROSPECT (Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum) Experiment.

• The two-segment detector was constructed according to the design specifications of the experiment.
• It features low-mass optical separators, an integrated source and optical calibration system, and materials that are compatible with the $^{6}$Li-doped scintillator developed by PROSPECT.
• We demonstrate a high light collection of 850$\pm$20 PE/MeV, an energy resolution of $\sigma$ = 4.0$\pm$0.2% at 1 MeV, and efficient pulse-shape discrimination of low $dE/dx$ (electronic recoil) and high $dE/dx$ (nuclear recoil) energy depositions.