New ways for real time detection of low energy solar neutrinos and other crucial experiments in nuclear and particle physics

Simultaneous detection of light and phonons or heat (the luminescent bolometer) was proposed in 1988 in view of dark matter detection and considered later for double beta experiments. Fast single crystal scintillators made of indium compounds have been developed for neutrino physics. Combining both ideas, simultaneous detection of light and phonons in a scintillating single crystal made of an indium compound and cooled to very low temperature, may reach three basic performances: a) better effective segmentation; b) fast timing from the light strobe; c) good energy resolution. Other uses were also proposed including spectroscopy with particle identification, thermal neutron detection with a 6Li target, neutrino experiments based on nucleus recoil etc. Photosensitive devices based on superconducting tunnel junctions appear as a suitable read out, able to collect the light pulse followed by the delayed front of phonons. (K.A.) 30 refs.; 2 figs