scholarly journals Design and performance of a high-pressure xenon gas TPC as a prototype for a large-scale neutrinoless double-beta decay search

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ban ◽  
M Hirose ◽  
A K Ichikawa ◽  
Y Iwashita ◽  
T Kikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Beta Decay ◽  
Energy Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay ◽  
Double Beta Decay ◽  
Detector Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Time Projection

Abstract A high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber, with a unique cellular readout structure based on electroluminescence, has been developed for a large-scale neutrinoless double-beta decay search. In order to evaluate the detector performance and validate its design, a 180 L size prototype is being constructed and its commissioning with partial detector has been performed. The obtained energy resolution at 4.0 bar is 1.73 $\pm$ 0.07% (FWHM) at 511 keV. The energy resolution at the $^{136}$Xe neutrinoless double-beta decay $Q$-value is estimated to be between 0.79 and 1.52% (FWHM) by extrapolation. Reconstructed event topologies show patterns peculiar to the track endpoint that can be used to distinguish $0\nu\beta\beta$ signals from gamma-ray backgrounds.

scholarly journals Status of the R2D2 project: A future neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

2021 ◽  
Vol 2105 (1) ◽  
pp. 012016
Author(s):  
Ioannis Katsioulas
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Beta Decay ◽  
Energy Resolution ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Double Beta Decay ◽  
Majorana Particle ◽  
Excellent Energy Resolution ◽  
Double Beta Decay Experiment

Abstract The nature of the neutrino is a central questions in physics. The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is the most sensitive experimental approach to demonstrate that the neutrino is a Majorana particle. Observation of such a rare process demands a detector with an excellent energy resolution, extremely low background, and a large mass of a double beta decaying isotope. R2D2 aims to develop a novel spherical high-pressure TPC that meets all the above requirements. As a first step, the energy resolution of the R2D2 prototype was measured. A 1.1% (FWHM) energy resolution was achieved for 5.3 MeV α-particles in Ar:CH4 at pressure up to 1.1 bar. This is a major milestone for R2D2 and paves the way for further studies with Xe gas and the possible use of this technology for neutrinoless double beta decay searches.

scholarly journals NEXT: Searching for the ββ0νDecay at the LSC

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 1860039
Author(s):  
P. Novella
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Beta Decay ◽  
Energy Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Physics ◽  
Double Beta Decay ◽  
Text Search ◽  
Physics Program ◽  
The Status ◽  
Event Topology

The goal of the NEXT collaboration is the sensitive search of the neutrino-less double beta decay ([Formula: see text]) of [Formula: see text]Xe at the LSC. After a successful R&D phase, a first large-scale prototype of a high-pressure gas-Xenon electroluminescent TPC (NEW) is being operated at LSC since 2016. NEW is a 10-kg radiopure detector meant to understand the relevant backgrounds for the [Formula: see text]search and to perform a measurement of the two neutrino mode of the double beta decay ([Formula: see text]). The first phase of the NEW physics program comprises the commissioning of the detector and the data taking with calibration sources. This phase has allowed to understand the detector capabilities in terms of energy resolution and event topology reconstruction. The operation of NEW is setting the grounds for the construction of the NEXT-100 detector: a TPC holding 100 kg of [Formula: see text]Xe and reaching a sensitivity to the [Formula: see text]half-life of [Formula: see text] y after 3 years of data taking. The latest results of the NEW detector as well as the status of the NEXT-100 project are presented.

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