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Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Sorel, M.; Ferrario, P.; Monrabal, F.; Muñoz, J.; Novella, P.; Poves, A.
Title Sense and sensitivity of double beta decay experiments Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Abbreviated Journal J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
Volume 06 Issue 6 Pages (up) 007 - 30pp
Keywords double beta decay; neutrino experiments; neutrino properties
Abstract The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is a very active field in which the number of proposals for next-generation experiments has proliferated. In this paper we attempt to address both the sense and the sensitivity of such proposals. Sensitivity comes first, by means of proposing a simple and unambiguous statistical recipe to derive the sensitivity to a putative Majorana neutrino mass, m(beta beta). In order to make sense of how the different experimental approaches compare, we apply this recipe to a selection of proposals, comparing the resulting sensitivities. We also propose a “physics-motivated range” (PMR) of the nuclear matrix elements as a unifying criterium between the different nuclear models. The expected performance of the proposals is parametrized in terms of only four numbers: energy resolution, background rate (per unit time, isotope mass and energy), detection efficiency, and beta beta isotope mass. For each proposal, both a reference and an optimistic scenario for the experimental performance are studied. In the reference scenario we find that all the proposals will be able to partially explore the degenerate spectrum, without fully covering it, although four of them (KamLAND-Zen, CUORE, NEXT and EXO) will approach the 50 meV boundary. In the optimistic scenario, we find that CUORE and the xenon-based proposals (KamLAND-Zen, EXO and NEXT) will explore a significant fraction of the inverse hierarchy, with NEXT covering it almost fully. For the long term future, we argue that Xe-136-based experiments may provide the best case for a 1-ton scale experiment, given the potentially very low backgrounds achievable and the expected scalability to large isotope masses.
Address [Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Sorel, M.; Ferrario, P.; Monrabal, F.; Munoz, J.] CSIC, IFIC, Valencia 46071, Spain, Email: gomez@mail.cern.ch
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 1475-7516 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes ISI:000292332400007 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration no
Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 675
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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.
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 (up) 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 [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
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Author Bernal, N.; Martin-Albo, J.; Palomares-Ruiz, S.
Title A novel way of constraining WIMPs annihilations in the Sun: MeV neutrinos Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Abbreviated Journal J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
Volume 08 Issue 8 Pages (up) 011 - 19pp
Keywords dark matter theory; neutrino detectors; neutrino experiments
Abstract Annihilation of dark matter particles accumulated in the Sun would produce a flux of high-energy neutrinos whose prospects of detection in neutrino telescopes and detectors have been extensively discussed in the literature. However, for annihilations into Standard Model particles, there would also be a flux of neutrinos in the MeV range from the decays at rest of muons and positively charged pions. These low-energy neutrinos have never been considered before and they open the possibility to also constrain dark matter annihilation in the Sun into e(+)e(-), mu(+)mu(-) or light quarks. Here we perform a detailed analysis using the recent Super-Kamiokande data in the few tens of MeV range to set limits on the WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section for different annihilation channels and computing the evaporation rate of WIMPs from the Sun for all values of the scattering cross section in a consistent way.
Address [Bernal, Nicolas] Univ Bonn, Bethe Ctr Theoret Phys, D-53115 Bonn, Germany, Email: nicolas@th.physik.uni-bonn.de;
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 1475-7516 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000324032800014 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1584
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Author NEMO-3 Collaboration (Argyriades, J. et al); Diaz, J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Monrabal, F.; Novella, P.; Serra, L.; Yahlali, N.
Title Spectral modeling of scintillator for the NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A
Volume 625 Issue 1 Pages (up) 20-28
Keywords Scintillation; Photomultiplier; Plastic scintillators; Optical photon transport; GEANT 4; Double beta decay
Abstract We have constructed a GEANT4-based detailed software model of photon transport in plastic sontillator blocks and have used it to study the NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO calorimeters employed in experiments designed to search for neutnnoless double beta decay We compare our simulations to measurements using conversion electrons from a calibration source of (BI)-B-207 and show that the agreement is improved if wavelength-dependent properties of the calorimeter are taken into account In this article we briefly describe our modeling approach and results of our studies.
Address [Lang, K.; Pahlka, R. B.] Univ Texas Austin, Dept Phys, Austin, TX 78712 USA
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 ISI:000285432400004 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 587
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Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Mezzetto, M.; Monrabal, F.; Sorel, M.
Title The search for neutrinoless double beta decay Type Journal Article
Year 2012 Publication Rivista del Nuovo Cimento Abbreviated Journal Riv. Nuovo Cimento
Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages (up) 29-98
Keywords
Abstract In the last two decades the search for neutrinoless double beta decay has evolved into one of the highest priorities for understanding neutrinos and the origin of mass. The main reason for this paradigm shift has been the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which clearly established the existence of massive neutrinos. An additional motivation for conducting such searches comes from the existence of an unconfirmed, but not refuted, claim of evidence for neutrinoless double decay in Ge-76. As a consequence, a new generation of experiments, employing different detection techniques and beta beta isotopes, is being actively promoted by experimental groups across the world. In addition, nuclear theorists are making remarkable progress in the calculation of the neutrinoless double beta. decay nuclear matrix elements, thus eliminating a substantial part of the theoretical uncertainties affecting the particle physics interpretation of this process. In this report, we review the main aspects of the double beta decay process and some of the most relevant experiments. The picture that emerges is one where searching for neutrinoless double beta decay is recognized to have both far-reaching theoretical implications and promising prospects for experimental observation in the near future.
Address [Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Monrabal, F.; Sorel, M.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Valencia, Spain, Email: sorel@ific.uv.es
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Soc Italiana Fisica 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:000301469900001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 942
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Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Guinea, F.; Fogler, M.M.; Katsnelson, M.I.; Martin-Albo, J.; Monrabal, F.; Muñoz Vidal, J.
Title GraXe, graphene and xenon for neutrinoless double beta decay searches Type Journal Article
Year 2012 Publication Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Abbreviated Journal J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
Volume 02 Issue 2 Pages (up) 037 - 17pp
Keywords neutrino experiments; double beta decay
Abstract We propose a new detector concept, GraXe (to be pronounced as grace), to search for neutrinoless double beta decay in Xe-136. GraXe combines a popular detection medium in rare-event searches, liquid xenon, with a new, background-free material, grapheme. In our baseline design of GraXe, a sphere made of graphene-coated titanium mesh and filled with liquid xenon (LXe) enriched in the Xe-136 isotope is immersed in a large volume of natural LXe instrumented with photodetectors. Liquid xenon is an excellent scintillator, reasonably transparent to its own light. Graphene is transparent over a large frequency range, and impermeable to the xenon. Event position could be deduced from the light pattern detected in the photosensors. External backgrounds would be shielded by the buffer of natural LXe, leaving the ultra-radiopure internal volume virtually free of background. Industrial graphene can be manufactured at a competitive cost to produce the sphere. Enriching xenon in the isotope Xe-136 is easy and relatively cheap, and there is already near one ton of enriched xenon available in the world (currently being used by the EXO, KamLAND-Zen and NEXT experiments). All the cryogenic know-how is readily available from the numerous experiments using liquid xenon. An experiment using the GraXe concept appears realistic and affordable in a short time scale, and its physics potential is enormous.
Address [Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Monrabal, F.; Munoz Vidal, J.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular, IFIC, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: gomez@mail.cern.ch;
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 1475-7516 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000301176000038 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 987
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Pena-Garay, C.
Title Discovery potential of xenon-based neutrinoless double beta decay experiments in light of small angular scale CMB observations Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Abbreviated Journal J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
Volume 03 Issue 3 Pages (up) 043 - 17pp
Keywords neutrino masses from cosmology; double beta decay
Abstract The South Pole Telescope (SPT) has probed an expanded angular range of the CMB temperature power spectrum. Their recent analysis of the latest cosmological data prefers nonzero neutrino masses, with Sigma m(nu) = (0.32 +/- 0.11) eV. This result, if con firmed by the upcoming Planck data, has deep implications on the discovery of the nature of neutrinos. In particular, the values of the effective neutrino mass m(beta beta) involved in neutrinoless double beta decay (beta beta 0 nu) are severely constrained for both the direct and inverse hierarchy, making a discovery much more likely. In this paper, we focus in xenon-based beta beta 0 nu experiments, on the double grounds of their good performance and the suitability of the technology to large-mass scaling. We show that the current generation, with effective masses in the range of 100 kg and conceivable exposures in the range of 500 kg.year, could already have a sizeable opportunity to observe beta beta 0 nu events, and their combined discovery potential is quite large. The next generation, with an exposure in the range of 10 ton.year, would have a much more enhanced sensitivity, in particular due to the very low specific background that all the xenon technologies (liquid xenon, high-pressure xenon and xenon dissolved in liquid scintillator) can achieve. In addition, a high-pressure xenon gas TPC also features superb energy resolution. We show that such detector can fully explore the range of allowed effective Majorana masses, thus making a discovery very likely.
Address CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular, IFIC, Valencia 46090, Spain, Email: gomez@mail.cern.ch;
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 1475-7516 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000316989200044 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration no
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1434
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Author NEXT Collaboration (Renner, J. et al); Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Gil, A.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Laing, A.; Liubarsky, I.; 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.
Title Ionization and scintillation of nuclear recoils in gaseous xenon Type Journal Article
Year 2015 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A
Volume 793 Issue Pages (up) 62-74
Keywords Dark matter; High pressure xenon gas; WIMP; Neutrino less double beta decay; Nuclear recoils
Abstract Ionization and scintillation produced by nuclear recoils in gaseous xenon at approximately 14 bar have been simultaneously observed in an electroluminescent time projection chamber. Neutrons from radioisotope a-Be neutron sources were used to induce xenon nuclear recoils, and the observed recoil spectra were compared to a detailed Monte Carlo employing estimated ionization and scintillation yields for nuclear recoils. The ability to discriminate between electronic and nuclear recoils using the ratio of ionization to primary scintillation is demonstrated. These results encourage further investigation on the use of xenon in the gas phase as a detector medium in dark matter direct detection experiments.
Address [Renner, J.; Gehman, V. M.; Goldschmidt, A.; Matis, H. S.; Miller, T.; Nakajima, Y.; Nygren, D.; Oliveira, C. A. B.; Shuman, D.] LBNL, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA, Email: jrenner@lbl.gov
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:000355774500011 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2247
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author DUNE Collaboration (Abi, B. et al); Antonova, M.; Barenboim, G.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; De Romeri, V.; Fernandez Menendez, P.; Garcia-Peris, M.A.; Izmaylov, A.; Martin-Albo, J.; Masud, M.; Mena, O.; Molina Bueno, L.; Novella, P.; Rubio, F.C.; Sorel, M.; Ternes, C.A.; Tortola, M.; Valle, J.W.F.
Title Searching for solar KDAR with DUNE Type Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Abbreviated Journal J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages (up) 065 - 28pp
Keywords dark matter theory; neutrino detectors
Abstract The observation of 236 MeV muon neutrinos from kaon-decay-at-rest (KDAR) originating in the core of the Sun would provide a unique signature of dark matter annihilation. Since excellent angle and energy reconstruction are necessary to detect this monoenergetic, directional neutrino flux, DUNE with its vast volume and reconstruction capabilities, is a promising candidate for a KDAR neutrino search. In this work, we evaluate the proposed KDAR neutrino search strategies by realistically modeling both neutrino-nucleus interactions and the response of DUNE. We find that, although reconstruction of the neutrino energy and direction is difficult with current techniques in the relevant energy range, the superb energy resolution, angular resolution, and particle identification offered by DUNE can still permit great signal/background discrimination. Moreover, there are non-standard scenarios in which searches at DUNE for KDAR in the Sun can probe dark matter interactions.
Address [Fani, M.; Isenhower, L.] Abilene Christian Univ, Abilene, TX 79601 USA
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 1475-7516 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000758221400019 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5141
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Author NEXT Collaboration (Alvarez, V. et al); Carcel, S.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Gil, A.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Liubarsky, I.; Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title Near-intrinsic energy resolution for 30-662 keV gamma rays in a high pressure xenon electroluminescent TPC Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A
Volume 708 Issue Pages (up) 101-114
Keywords Xenon; Energy resolution; High-pressure; TPC; Electroluminescence; Neutrinoless double beta decay
Abstract We present the design, data and results from the NEXT prototype for Double Beta and Dark Matter (NEXT-DBDM) detector, a high-pressure gaseous natural xenon electroluminescent time projection chamber (TPC) that was built at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It is a prototype of the planned NEXT-100 Xe-136 neutrino-less double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) experiment with the main objectives of demonstrating near-intrinsic energy resolution at energies up to 662 keV and of optimizing the NEXT-100 detector design and operating parameters. Energy resolutions of similar to 1% FWHM for 662 keV gamma rays were obtained at 10 and 15 atm and similar to 5% FWHM for 30 keV fluorescence xenon X-rays. These results demonstrate that 0.5% FWHM resolutions for the 2459 keV hypothetical neutrino-less double beta decay peak are realizable. This energy resolution is a factor 7-20 better than that of the current leading 0 nu beta beta experiments using liquid xenon and thus represents a significant advancement. We present also first results from a track imaging system consisting of 64 silicon photo-multipliers recently installed in NEXT-DBDM that, along with the excellent energy resolution, demonstrates the key functionalities required for the NEXT-100 0 nu beta beta search.
Address [Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera, A.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Gil, A.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Liubarsky, I.; Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; 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: agoldschmidt@lbl.gov
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:000316192300015 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1369
Permanent link to this record