NEXT Collaboration(Ferrario, P. et al), Benlloch-Rodriguez, J. M., Kekic, M., Renner, J., Uson, A., Alvarez, V., et al. (2019). Demonstration of the event identification capabilities of the NEXT-White detector. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 052–20pp.
Abstract: In experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay, the possibility of identifying the two emitted electrons is a powerful tool in rejecting background events and therefore improving the overall sensitivity of the experiment. In this paper we present the first measurement of the efficiency of a cut based on the different event signatures of double and single electron tracks, using the data of the NEXT-White detector, the first detector of the NEXT experiment operating underground. Using a Th-228 calibration source to produce signal-like and background-like events with energies near 1.6 MeV, a signal efficiency of 71.6 +/- 1.5(stat) +/- 0.3(sys) % for a background acceptance of 20.6 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.3(sys)% is found, in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. An extrapolation to the energy region of the neutrinoless double beta decay by means of Monte Carlo simulations is also carried out, and the results obtained show an improvement in background rejection over those obtained at lower energies.
|
Double Chooz collaboration(de Kerret, H. et al), & Novella, P. (2018). Yields and production rates of cosmogenic Li-9 and He-8 measured with the Double Chooz near and far detectors. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 053–20pp.
Abstract: The yields and production rates of the radioisotopes Li-9 and He-8 created by cosmic muon spallation on C-12, have been measured by the two detectors of the Double Chooz experiment. The identical detectors are located at separate sites and depths, which means that they are subject to different muon spectra. The near (far) detector has an overburden of approximate to 120 m.w.e. (approximate to 300 m.w.e.) corresponding to a mean muon energy of 32.1 +/- 2.0 GeV (63.7 +/- 5.5 GeV). Comparing the data to a detailed simulation of the Li-9 and He-8 decays, the contribution of the He-8 radioisotope at both detectors is found to be compatible with zero. The observed Li-9 yields in the near and far detectors are 5.51 +/- 0.51 and 7.90 +/- 0.51, respectively, in units of 10(-8-1)g(-1)cm(2). The shallow overburdens of the near and far detectors give a unique insight when combined with measurements by KamLAND and Borexino to give the first multi-experiment, data driven relationship between the Li-9 yield and the mean muon energy according to the power law and Y-0 = (0.43 +/- 0.11) x 10(-8-1)g(-1)cm(2). This relationship gives future liquid scintillator based experiments the ability to predict their cosmogenic Li-9 background rates.
|
DUNE Collaboration(Abi, B. et al), Antonova, M., Barenboim, G., Cervera-Villanueva, A., De Romeri, V., Fernandez Menendez, P., et al. (2021). Searching for solar KDAR with DUNE. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 10(10), 065–28pp.
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.
|
NEXT Collaboration(Felkai, R. et al), Sorel, M., Lopez-March, N., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Alvarez, V., Benlloch-Rodriguez, J. M., et al. (2018). Helium-Xenon mixtures to improve the topological signature in high pressure gas xenon TPCs. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 905, 82–90.
Abstract: Within the framework of xenon-based double beta decay experiments, we propose the possibility to improve the background rejection of an electroluminescent Time Projection Chamber (EL TPC) by reducing the diffusion of the drifting electrons while keeping nearly intact the energy resolution of a pure xenon EL TPC. Based on state-of-the-art microscopic simulations, a substantial addition of helium, around 10 or 15 %, may reduce drastically the transverse diffusion down to 2.5 mm/root m from the 10.5 mm/root m of pure xenon. The longitudinal diffusion remains around 4 mm/root m. Light production studies have been performed as well. They show that the relative variation in energy resolution introduced by such a change does not exceed a few percent, which leaves the energy resolution practically unchanged. The technical caveats of using photomultipliers close to an helium atmosphere are also discussed in detail.
|
T2K Collaboration(Abe, K. et al), Antonova, M., Cervera-Villanueva, A., Fernandez, P., Izmaylov, A., & Novella, P. (2019). Measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current cross sections on water, hydrocarbon and iron, and their ratios, with the T2K on-axis detectors. Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys., (9), 093C02–30pp.
Abstract: We report a measurement of the flux-integrated v(mu) charged-current cross sections on water, hydrocarbon, and iron in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam with a mean neutrino energy of 1.5 GeV. The measured cross sections on water, hydrocarbon, and iron are sigma(H2O)(CC) = (0.840 +/- 0.010(stat.)(0.08)(+0.10)(syst.)) x 10 (38) cm(2)/nucleon, sigma(CH)(CC) = (0.817 +/- 0.007(stat.)(0.08)(+0.11)(syst.)) x 10 (38) cm(2)/nucleon, and sigma(Fe)(CC) = (0.859 +/- 0.003(stat.)(0.10)(+0.12)(syst.)) x 10 (38) cm(2)/nucleon, respectively, for a restricted phase space of induced muons: theta(mu) < 45 degrees and p(mu) >0.4 GeV/c in the laboratory frame. The measured cross section ratios are sigma(H2O)(CC)/sigma(CH)(CC) = 1.028 +/- 0.016(stat.) +/- 0.053(syst.), sigma(Fe)(CC)/sigma(H2O)(CC) = 1.023 +/- 0.012(stat.) +/- 0.058(syst.), and sigma(Fe)(CC)/sigma(CH)(CC) = 1.049 +/- 0.010(stat.) +/- 0.043(syst.). These results, with an unprecedented precision for the measurements of neutrino cross sections on water in the studied energy region, show good agreement with the current neutrino interaction models used in the T2K oscillation analyses.
|
