Abstract
The nEXO neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay experiment is designed to use a time projection chamber and 5000 kg of isotopically enriched liquid xenon to search for the decay in 136Xe. ...Progress in the detector design, paired with higher fidelity in its simulation and an advanced data analysis, based on the one used for the final results of EXO-200, produce a sensitivity prediction that exceeds the half-life of 1028 years. Specifically, improvements have been made in the understanding of production of scintillation photons and charge as well as of their transport and reconstruction in the detector. The more detailed knowledge of the detector construction has been paired with more assays for trace radioactivity in different materials. In particular, the use of custom electroformed copper is now incorporated in the design, leading to a substantial reduction in backgrounds from the intrinsic radioactivity of detector materials. Furthermore, a number of assumptions from previous sensitivity projections have gained further support from interim work validating the nEXO experiment concept. Together these improvements and updates suggest that the nEXO experiment will reach a half-life sensitivity of 1.35 × 1028 yr at 90% confidence level in 10 years of data taking, covering the parameter space associated with the inverted neutrino mass ordering, along with a significant portion of the parameter space for the normal ordering scenario, for almost all nuclear matrix elements. The effects of backgrounds deviating from the nominal values used for the projections are also illustrated, concluding that the nEXO design is robust against a number of imperfections of the model.
Experiments based on noble elements such as gaseous or liquid argon or xenon utilize the ionization and scintillation properties of the target materials to detect radiation-induced recoils. A ...requirement for high light and charge yields is to reduce electronegative impurities well below the ppb (parts per billion, 1 ppb
=
1
×
10
-
9
mol/mol) level. To achieve this, the target material is continuously circulated in the gas phase through a purifier and returned to the detector. Additionally, the low backgrounds necessary dictate low-Rn-emanation rates from all components that contact the gas. Since commercial pumps often introduce electronegative impurities from lubricants on internal components or through small air leaks, and are not designed to meet the radiopurity requirements, custom-built pumps are an advantageous alternative. A new pump has been developed in Muenster in cooperation with the nEXO group at Stanford University and the nEXO/XENON group at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute based on a magnetically-coupled piston in a hermetically sealed low-Rn-emanating vessel. This pump delivers high performance for noble gases, reaching more than 210 standard liters per minute (slpm) with argon and more than 170 slpm with xenon while maintaining a compression of up to 1.9 bar, demonstrating its capability for noble gas detectors and other applications requiring high standards of gas purity.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We discuss a novel paradigm in the optical readout of scintillation radiation detectors. In one common configuration, such detectors are homogeneous and the scintillation light is collected and ...recorded by external photodetectors. It is usually assumed that imaging in such a photon-starved and large-emittance regime is not possible. Here we show that the appropriate optics, matched with highly segmented photodetector coverage and dedicated reconstruction software, can be used to produce images of the radiation-induced events. In particular, such a “distributed imaging” system can discriminate between events produced as a single cluster and those resulting from more delocalized energy depositions. This is crucial in discriminating many common backgrounds at MeV energies. With the use of simulation, we demonstrate the performance of a detector augmented with a practical, if preliminary, set of optics. Finally, we remark that this new technique lends itself to be adapted to different detector sizes and briefly discuss the implications for a number of common applications in science and technology.
Full text
Available for:
CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
We report on a low energy measurement of the ionization yield in a Tetramethylsilane Time Projection Chamber (TPC) using 2.8 MeV neutrons from a deuterium-deuterium neutron generator. The proton ...recoil charge yield is measured at four different electric fields, finding a dependence that can be described by the Thomas-Imel model. By comparing the proton recoil yield to that obtained from γ-ray calibrations, a quenching factor is obtained for each electric field. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using room temperature organic ionisation detectors to detect MeV-scale neutrons in the proton-recoil channel.
Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are attractive candidates for light detectors for next generation liquid xenon double-beta decay experiments, like nEXO (next Enriched Xenon Observatory). In this ...paper we discuss the requirements that the SiPMs must satisfy in order to be suitable for nEXO and similar experiments, describe the two test setups operated by the nEXO collaboration, and present the results of characterization of SiPMs from several vendors. In particular, we find that the photon detection efficiency at the peak of xenon scintillation light emission (175-178 nm) approaches the nEXO requirements for tested FBK and Hamamatsu devices. Additionally, the nEXO collaboration performed radio-assay of several grams of bare FBK devices using neutron activation analysis, indicating levels of 40 K, 232 Th, and 238 U of the order of <; 0.15, (6.9 · 10 - 4 - 1.3 · 10 - 2 ), and <; 0.11 mBq/kg, respectively.
An existing array of underwater, large-bandwidth acoustic sensors has been used to study the detection of ultra-high-energy (UHE) neutrinos in cosmic rays. Acoustic data from a subset of seven ...hydrophones located at a depth of 61600 m have been acquired for a total live time of 195 days. For the first time, a large sample of acoustic background events has been studied for the purpose of extracting signals from super-EeV showers. As a test of the technique, an upper limit for the flux of UHE neutrinos is presented, along with considerations relevant to the design of an acoustic array optimized for neutrino detection.
We describe an approach to the study of neutrino masses that combines quantum optics techniques with radiation detectors to obtain unprecedented sensitivity. With it the search for Majorana neutrino ...masses down to ∼10 meV will become accessible. The experimental technique uses the possibility of individually detecting Ba
+-ions in the final state of
136Xe double-beta decay via resonant excitation with a set of lasers aimed at a specific location in a large Time Projection Chamber. The specificity of the atomic levels provides tagging and, together with more traditional event recognition parameters, greatly suppresses radioactive backgrounds.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We report on the initial results from a measurement of the antineutrino flux and spectrum at a distance of about 800 m from the three reactors of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station using a ...segmented gadolinium-loaded scintillation detector. We find that the antineutrino flux agrees with that predicted in the absence of oscillations excluding at 90% C.L. nu;(e)-nu;(x) oscillations with Deltam(2)>1.12x10(-3) eV(2) for maximal mixing and sin (2)2straight theta>0.21 for large Deltam(2). Our results support the conclusion that the atmospheric neutrino oscillations observed by Super-Kamiokande do not involve nu(e).
Full text
Available for:
CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
An experimental setup is being developed to extract Ba ions from a high-pressure Xe gas environment. It aims to transport Ba ions from 10bar Xe to vacuum conditions. The setup utilizes a ...converging–diverging nozzle in combination with a radio-frequency (RF) funnel to move Ba ions into vacuum through the pressure drop of several orders of magnitude. This technique is intended for use in a future multi-ton detector investigating double-beta decay in 136Xe. Efficient extraction and detection of Ba ions, the decay product of 136Xe, would allow for a background-free measurement of the 136Xe double-beta decay.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
PDF
