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Author Gil, A.; Diaz, J.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Herrero, V.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Toledo, J.; Esteve, R.; Monzo, J.M.; Monrabal, F.; Yahlali, N. doi  openurl
  Title Front-end electronics for accurate energy measurement of double beta decays Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A  
  Volume 695 Issue Pages 407-409  
  Keywords Front-end electronics; Xenon gas TPC; Energy measurement; Electroluminiscence; Double-beta decay  
  Abstract NEXT, a double beta decay experiment that will operate in Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Spain), aims at measuring the neutrinoless double-beta decay of the 136Xe isotope using a TPC filled with enriched Xenon gas at high pressure operated in electroluminescence mode. One technological challenge of the experiment is to achieve resolution better than 1% in the energy measurement using a plane of UV sensitive photomultipliers readout with appropriate custom-made front-end electronics. The front-end is designed to be sensitive to the single photo-electron to detect the weak primary scintillation light produced in the chamber, and also to be able to cope with the electroluminescence signal (several hundred times higher and with a duration of microseconds). For efficient primary scintillation detection and precise energy measurement of the electroluminescent signals the front-end electronics features low noise and adequate amplification. The signal shaping provided allows the digitization of the signals at a frequency as low as 40 MHz.  
  Address (up) [Gil, A.; Diaz, J.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Monrabal, F.; Yahlali, N.] Inst Fis Corpuscular CSIC UV, Valencia 46071, Spain, Email: alejandro.gil@ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Science Bv Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0168-9002 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000311469900092 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration no  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1238  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Menendez, J.; Mezzetto, M.; Monrabal, F.; Sorel, M. doi  openurl
  Title The search for neutrinoless double-beta decay Type Journal Article
  Year 2024 Publication Rivista del Nuovo Cimento Abbreviated Journal Riv. Nuovo Cimento  
  Volume 46 Issue Pages 619-692  
  Keywords Neutrinos; Majorana; Double-beta decay; Nuclear matrix elements  
  Abstract Neutrinos are the only particles in the Standard Model that could be Majorana fermions, that is, completely neutral fermions that are their own antiparticles. The most sensitive known experimental method to verify whether neutrinos are Majorana particles is the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. The last 2 decades have witnessed the development of a vigorous program of neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, spanning several isotopes and developing different strategies to handle the backgrounds masking a possible signal. In addition, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the nuclear matrix elements of neutrinoless double-beta decay, thus reducing a substantial part of the theoretical uncertainties affecting the particle-physics interpretation of the process. On the other hand, the negative results by several experiments, combined with the hints that the neutrino mass ordering could be normal, may imply very long lifetimes for the neutrinoless double-beta decay process. In this report, we review the main aspects of such process, the recent progress on theoretical ideas and the experimental state of the art. We then consider the experimental challenges to be addressed to increase the sensitivity to detect the process in the likely case that lifetimes are much longer than currently explored, and discuss a selection of the most promising experimental efforts.  
  Address (up) [Gomez-Cadenas, Juan Jose; Monrabal, Francesc] Donostia Int Phys Ctr, ERC Basque Excellence Res Ctr, Donostia San Sebastian 20018, Spain, Email: jjgomezcadenas@dipc.org  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Springernature Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0393-697x ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:001151173800001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5915  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Cebrian, S. et al); Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Laing, A.; Liubarsky, I.; Lopez-March, N.; Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monserrate, M.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Accurate gamma and MeV-electron track reconstruction with an ultra-low diffusion Xenon/TMA TPC at 10 atm Type Journal Article
  Year 2015 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A  
  Volume 804 Issue Pages 8-24  
  Keywords Double-beta decay; Gamma and electron detection; Microbulk micromegas; Time projection chamber; High pressure Xenon-Trimehylamine; Penning-Fluorescent mixtures  
  Abstract We report the performance of a 10 atm Xenon/trimethylamine time projection chamber (TPC) for the detection of X-rays (30 keV) and gamma-rays (0.511-1.275 MeV) in conjunction with the accurate tracking of the associated electrons. When operated at such a high pressure and in similar to 1%-admixtures, trimethylamine (TMA) endows Xenon with an extremely low electron diffusion (1.3 +/- 0.13 mm-sigma (longitudinal), 0.95 +/- 0.20 mm-sigma (transverse) along 1 m drift) besides forming a convenient Penning-Fluorescent' mixture. The TPC, that houses 1.1 kg of gas in its fiducial volume, operated continuously for 100 live-days in charge amplification mode. The readout was performed through the recently introduced microbulk Micromegas technology and the AFTER chip, providing a 3D voxelization of 8 mm x 8 mm x 1.2 mm for approximately 10 cm/MeV-long electron tracks. Resolution in energy (epsilon) at full width half maximum (R) inside the fiducial volume ranged from R = 14.6% (30 keV) to R = 4.6% (1.275 MeV). This work was developed as part of the R&D program of the NEXT collaboration for future detector upgrades in the search of the neutrino-less double beta decay (beta beta 0 nu) in Xe-136, specifically those based on novel gas mixtures. Therefore we ultimately focus on the calorimetric and topological properties of the reconstructed MeV-electron tracks. In particular, the obtained energy resolution has been decomposed in its various contributions and improvements towards achieving the R =1.4%root MeV/epsilon levels obtained in small sensors are discussed.  
  Address (up) [Gonzalez-Diaz, Diego; Cebrian, S.; Dafni, T.; Herrera, D. C.; Irastorza, I. G.; Luzon, G.; Villar, J. A.; Aznarab, F.; Castel, J.; Garcia, J. A.; Gomez, H.; Iguaz, F. J.; Lagraba, A.; Rodriguez, A.; Ruiz-Choliz, E.; Segui, L.; Tomas, A.] Univ Zaragoza, Lab Fis Nucl & Astroparticulas, Zaragoza, Spain, Email: Diego.Gonzalez.Diaz@cern.ch;  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Science Bv Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0168-9002 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000364133700002 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2442  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Simon, A. et al); Felkai, R.; Martinez-Lema, G.; Sorel, M.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Alvarez, V.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Botas, A.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Kekic, M.; Laing, A.; Lopez-March, N.; Martinez, A.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Musti, M.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Perez, J.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Romo Luque, C.; Torrent, J.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Electron drift properties in high pressure gaseous xenon Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 13 Issue Pages P07013 - 23pp  
  Keywords Charge transport and multiplication in gas; Charge transport, multiplication and electroluminescence in rare gases and liquids; Double-beta decay detectors; Gaseous imaging and tracking detectors  
  Abstract Gaseous time projection chambers (TPC) are a very attractive detector technology for particle tracking. Characterization of both drift velocity and diffusion is of great importance to correctly assess their tracking capabilities. NEXT-White is a High Pressure Xenon gas TPC with electroluminescent amplification, a 1:2 scale model of the future NEXT-100 detector, which will be dedicated to neutrinoless double beta decay searches. NEXT-White has been operating at Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) since December 2016. The drift parameters have been measured using Kr-83(m) for a range of reduced drift fields at two different pressure regimes, namely 7.2 bar and 9.1 bar. The results have been compared with Magboltz simulations. Agreement at the 5% level or better has been found for drift velocity, longitudinal diffusion and transverse diffusion.  
  Address (up) [Hauptman, J.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: ander@post.bgu.ac.il  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000439125700006 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3671  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Martinez-Lema, G. et al); Palmeiro, B.; Botas, A.; Laing, A.; Renner, J.; Simon, A.; Alvarez, V.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Felkai, R.; Kekic, M.; Lopez-March, N.; Martinez, A.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Musti, M.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Perez, J.; Querol, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Romo-Lugue, C.; Sorel, M.; Torrent, J.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Calibration of the NEXT-White detector using Kr-83m decays Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 13 Issue Pages P10014 - 21pp  
  Keywords Charge transport; multiplication and electroluminescence in rare gases and liquids; Gaseous imaging and tracking detectors; Time projection Chambers (TPC); Double-beta decay detectors  
  Abstract The NEXT-White (NEW) detector is currently the largest radio-pure high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber with electroluminescent readout in the world. It has been operating at Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC) since October 2016. This paper describes the calibrations performed using Kr-83m decays during a long run taken from March to November 2017 (Run II). Krypton calibrations are used to correct for the finite drift-electron lifetime as well as for the dependence of the measured energy on the event transverse position which is caused by variations in solid angle coverage both for direct and reflected light and edge effects. After producing calibration maps to correct for both effects we measure an excellent energy resolution for 41.5 keV point-like deposits of (4.553 +/- 0.010 (stat.) +/- 0.324 (sys.)) % FWHM in the full chamber and (3.804 +/- 0.013 (stat.) +/- 0.112 (sys.)) % FWHM in a restricted fiducial volume. Using naive 1/root E scaling, these values translate into resolutions of (0.5916 +/- 0.0014 (stat.) +/- 0.0421 (sys.)) % FWHM and (0.4943 +/- 0.0017 (stat.) +/- 0.0146 (sys.)) % FWHM at the Q(beta beta) energy of xenon double beta decay (2458 keV), well within range of our target value of 1%.  
  Address (up) [Hauptman, J.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: gonzalo.martinez.lema@usc.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000447061800001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3754  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Ghosh, S. et al); Martin-Albo, J.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Felkai, R.; Lopez-March, N.; Martinez-Vara, M.; Martinez-Lema, G.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Querol, M.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Uson, A.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Dependence of polytetrafluoroethylene reflectance on thickness at visible and ultraviolet wavelengths in air Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 15 Issue 11 Pages P11031 - 16pp  
  Keywords Detector design and construction technologies and materials; Double-beta decay detectors; Time projection Chambers (TPC)  
  Abstract Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an excellent diffuse reflector widely used in light collection systems for particle physics experiments. However, the reflectance of PTFE is a function of its thickness. In this work, we investigate this dependence in air for light of wavelengths 260 nm and 450 nm using two complementary methods. We find that PTFE reflectance for thicknesses from 5 mm to 10 mm ranges from 92.5% to 94.5% at 450 nm, and from 90.0% to 92.0% at 260 nm We also see that the reflectance of PIFE of a given thickness can vary by as much as 2.7% within the same piece of material. Finally, we show that placing a specular reflector behind the PTFE can recover the loss of reflectance in the visible without introducing a specular component in the reflectance.  
  Address (up) [Hauptman, J.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: jhaefner@g.harvard.edu  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000595650800024 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 4633  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Lorca, D. et al); Martin-Albo, J.; Laing, A.; Ferrario, P.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Liubarsky, I.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monserrate, M.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Characterisation of NEXT-DEMO using xenon K-alpha X-rays Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 9 Issue Pages P10007 - 20pp  
  Keywords Charge transport, multiplication and electroluminescence in rare gases and liquids; Double-beta decay detectors; Time projection chambers  
  Abstract The NEXT experiment aims to observe the neutrinoless double beta decay of Xe-136 in a high-pressure xenon gas TPC using electroluminescence (EL) to amplify the signal from ionization. Understanding the response of the detector is imperative in achieving a consistent and well understood energy measurement. The abundance of xenon K-shell X-ray emission during data taking has been identified as a multitool for the characterisation of the fundamental parameters of the gas as well as the equalisation of the response of the detector. The NEXT-DEMO prototype is a similar to 1.5 kg volume TPC filled with natural xenon. It employs an array of 19 PMTs as an energy plane and of 256 SiPMs as a tracking plane with the TPC light tube and SiPM surfaces being coated with tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB) which acts as a wavelength shifter for the VUV scintillation light produced by xenon. This paper presents the measurement of the properties of the drift of electrons in the TPC, the effects of the EL production region, and the extraction of position dependent correction constants using K-alpha X-ray deposits. These constants were used to equalise the response of the detector to deposits left by gammas from Na-22.  
  Address (up) [Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Laing, A.; Ferrario, P.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera, A.; Diaz, J.; Liubarsky, I.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monserrate, M.; Munoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: david.lorca@ific.uv.es;  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000345858500050 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2055  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Mistry, K. et al); Carcel, S.; Lopez-March, N.; Martin-Albo, J.; Novella, P.; Querol, M.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Soto-Oton, J.; Uson, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Design, characterization and installation of the NEXT-100 cathode and electroluminescence regions Type Journal Article
  Year 2024 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages P02007 - 36pp  
  Keywords Detector design and construction technologies and materials; Double-beta decay detectors; Charge transport; multiplication and electroluminescence in rare gases and liquids; Time projection Chambers (TPC)  
  Abstract NEXT -100 is currently being constructed at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc in the Spanish Pyrenees and will search for neutrinoless double beta decay using a high-pressure gaseous time projection chamber (TPC) with 100 kg of xenon. Charge amplification is carried out via electroluminescence (EL) which is the process of accelerating electrons in a high electric field region causing secondary scintillation of the medium proportional to the initial charge. The NEXT -100 EL and cathode regions are made from tensioned hexagonal meshes of 1 m diameter. This paper describes the design, characterization, and installation of these parts for NEXT -100. Simulations of the electric field are performed to model the drift and amplification of ionization electrons produced in the detector under various EL region alignments and rotations. Measurements of the electrostatic breakdown voltage in air characterize performance under high voltage conditions and identify breakdown points. The electrostatic deflection of the mesh is quantified and fit to a first -pr inciples mechanical model. Measurements were performed with both a standalone test EL region and with the NEXT-100 EL region before its installation in the detector. Finally, we describe the parts as installed in NEXT-100, following their deployment in Summer 2023.  
  Address (up) [Mistry, K.; Jones, B. J. P.; Munson, B.; Norman, L.; Oliver, D.; Pingulkar, S.; Rodriguez-Tiscareno, M.; Silva, K.; Stogsdill, K.; Byrnes, N.; Dey, E.; Navarro, K. E.; Nygren, D. R.; Parmaksiz, I.] Univ Texas Arlington, Dept Phys, Arlington, TX 76019 USA, Email: next-src@pegaso.ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher IOP Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:001185791500003 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 6071  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Monrabal, F. et al); Laing, A.; Alvarez, V.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Felkai, R.; Martinez, A.; Musti, M.; Querol, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Simon, A.; Torrent, J.; Botas, A.; Diaz, J.; Kekic, M.; Lopez-March, N.; Martinez-Lema, G.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Perez, J.; Renner, J.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title The NEXT White (NEW) detector Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 13 Issue Pages P12010 - 38pp  
  Keywords Double-beta decay detectors; Particle tracking detectors; Scintillators; scintillation and light emission processes (solid gas and liquid scintillators); Time projection chambers  
  Abstract Conceived to host 5 kg of xenon at a pressure of 15 bar in the fiducial volume, the NEXT-White apparatus is currently the largest high pressure xenon gas TPC using electroluminescent amplification in the world. It is also a 1:2 scale model of the NEXT-100 detector for Xe-136 beta beta 0 nu decay searches, scheduled to start operations in 2019. Both detectors measure the energy of the event using a plane of photomultipliers located behind a transparent cathode. They can also reconstruct the trajectories of charged tracks in the dense gas of the TPC with the help of a plane of silicon photomultipliers located behind the anode. A sophisticated gas system, common to both detectors, allows the high gas purity needed to guarantee a long electron lifetime. NEXT-White has been operating since October 2016 at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC), in Spain. This paper describes the detector and associated infrastructures, as well as the main aspects of its initial operation.  
  Address (up) [Ouero, M.; Hauptman, J.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: monrabal18@gmail.com  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000452463500001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3833  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Renner, J.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Hernando, J.A.; Izmaylov, A.; Monrabal, F.; Muñoz, J.; Nygren, D.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Improved background rejection in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments using a magnetic field in a high pressure xenon TPC Type Journal Article
  Year 2015 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 10 Issue Pages P12020 - 19pp  
  Keywords Pattern recognition, cluster finding, calibration and fitting methods; Double-beta decay detectors; Time projection chambers; Particle tracking detectors (Gaseous detectors)  
  Abstract We demonstrate that the application of an external magnetic field could lead to an improved background rejection in neutrinoless double-beta (0 nu beta beta) decay experiments using a high-pressure xenon (HPXe) TPC. HPXe chambers are capable of imaging electron tracks, a feature that enhances the separation between signal events (the two electrons emitted in the 0 nu beta beta decay of Xe-136) and background events, arising chiefly from single electrons of kinetic energy compatible with the end-point of the 0 nu beta beta decay (Q(beta beta)). Applying an external magnetic field of sufficiently high intensity (in the range of 0.5-1 Tesla for operating pressures in the range of 5-15 atmospheres) causes the electrons to produce helical tracks. Assuming the tracks can be properly reconstructed, the sign of the curvature can be determined at several points along these tracks, and such information can be used to separate signal (0 nu beta beta) events containing two electrons producing a track with two different directions of curvature from background (single-electron) events producing a track that should spiral in a single direction. Due to electron multiple scattering, this strategy is not perfectly efficient on an event-by-event basis, but a statistical estimator can be constructed which can be used to reject background events by one order of magnitude at a moderate cost (about 30%) in signal efficiency. Combining this estimator with the excellent energy resolution and topological signature identification characteristic of the HPXe TPC, it is possible to reach a background rate of less than one count per ton-year of exposure. Such a low background rate is an essential feature of the next generation of 0 nu beta beta experiments, aiming to fully explore the inverse hierarchy of neutrino masses.  
  Address (up) [Renner, J.; Imzaylov, A.; Monrabal, F.; Munoz, J.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Calle Catedrat Jose Beltran 2, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: jrenner@ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000369998500053 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2549  
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