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Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Martin-Albo, J.; Menendez, J.; Mezzetto, M.; Monrabal, F.; Sorel, M.
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 [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 (down) yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5915
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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.
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 [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 (down) yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 6071
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Author NEXT Collaboration (Haefner, J. et al); Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Lopez-March, N.; Martin-Albo, J.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Novella, P.; Querol, M.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Soto-Oton, J.; Uson, A.
Title Demonstration of event position reconstruction based on diffusion in the NEXT-white detector Type Journal Article
Year 2024 Publication European Physical Journal C Abbreviated Journal Eur. Phys. J. C
Volume 84 Issue 5 Pages 518 - 13pp
Keywords
Abstract Noble element time projection chambers are a leading technology for rare event detection in physics, such as for dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay searches. Time projection chambers typically assign event position in the drift direction using the relative timing of prompt scintillation and delayed charge collection signals, allowing for reconstruction of an absolute position in the drift direction. In this paper, alternate methods for assigning event drift distance via quantification of electron diffusion in a pure high pressure xenon gas time projection chamber are explored. Data from the NEXT-White detector demonstrate the ability to achieve good position assignment accuracy for both high- and low-energy events. Using point-like energy deposits from Kr-83m calibration electron captures (E similar to 45 keV), the position of origin of low-energy events is determined to 2 cm precision with bias <1 mm. A convolutional neural network approach is then used to quantify diffusion for longer tracks (E >= 1.5 MeV), from radiogenic electrons, yielding a precision of 3 cm on the event barycenter. The precision achieved with these methods indicates the feasibility energy calibrations of better than 1% FWHM at Q(beta beta) in pure xenon, as well as the potential for event fiducialization in large future detectors using an alternate method that does not rely on primary scintillation.
Address [Haefner, J.; Contreras, T.] Harvard Univ, Dept Phys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Email: karen.navarro@uta.edu
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Springer Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1434-6044 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:001228898800001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration (down) yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 6138
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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 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 (down) no
Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 675
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Author Sorel, M.
Title Expected performance of an ideal liquid argon neutrino detector with enhanced sensitivity to scintillation light Type Journal Article
Year 2014 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 9 Issue Pages P10002 - 25pp
Keywords Noble liquid detectors (scintillation, ionization, double-phase); Neutrino detectors; Calorimeters; Time projection chambers
Abstract Scintillation light is used in liquid argon (LAr) neutrino detectors to provide a trigger signal, veto information against cosmic rays, and absolute event timing. In this work, we discuss additional opportunities offered by detectors with enhanced sensitivity to scintillation light, that is with light collection efficiencies of about 10(-3). We focus on two key detector performance indicators for neutrino oscillation physics: calorimetric neutrino energy reconstruction and neutrino/antineutrino separation in a non-magnetized detector. Our results are based on detailed simulations, with neutrino interactions modelled according to the GENIE event generator, while the charge and light responses of a large LAr ideal detector are described by the Geant4 and NEST simulation tools. A neutrino energy resolution as good as 3.3% RMS for 4 GeV electron neutrino charged-current interactions can in principle be obtained in a large detector of this type, by using both charge and light information. By exploiting muon capture in argon and scintillation light information to veto muon decay electrons, we also obtain muon neutrino identification efficiencies of about 50%, and muon antineutrino misidentification rates at the few percent level, for few-GeV neutrino interactions that are fully contained. We argue that the construction of large LAr detectors with sufficiently high light collection efficiencies is in principle possible.
Address [Sorel, M.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: sorel@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:000345858500045 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration (down) no
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2056
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Author De Romeri, V.; Fernandez-Martinez, E.; Sorel, M.
Title Neutrino oscillations at DUNE with improved energy reconstruction Type Journal Article
Year 2016 Publication Journal of High Energy Physics Abbreviated Journal J. High Energy Phys.
Volume 09 Issue 9 Pages 030 - 25pp
Keywords CP violation; Neutrino Physics
Abstract We study the physics reach of the long-baseline oscillation analysis of the DUNE experiment when realistic simulations are used to estimate its neutrino energy reconstruction capabilities. Our studies indicate that significant improvements in energy resolution compared to what is customarily assumed are plausible. This improved energy resolution can increase the sensitivity to leptonic CP violation in two ways. On the one hand, the CP-violating term in the oscillation probability has a characteristic energy dependence that can be better reproduced. On the other hand, the second oscillation maximum, especially sensitive to delta(CP), is better reconstructed. These effects lead to a significant improvement in the fraction of values of delta(CP) for which a 5 sigma discovery of leptonic CP-violation would be possible. The precision of the delta(CP) measurement could also be greatly enhanced, with a reduction of the maximum uncertainties from 26 degrees to 18 degrees for a 300 MW.kt.yr exposure. We therefore believe that this potential gain in physics reach merits further investigations of the detector performance achievable in DUNE.
Address [De Romeri, Valentina; Fernandez-Martinez, Enrique] Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Fis Teor, E-28049 Madrid, Spain, Email: valentina.deromeri@uam.es;
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Springer Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1029-8479 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000382887300001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration (down) no
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2807
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Author Ternes, C.A.; Gariazzo, S.; Hajjar, R.; Mena, O.; Sorel, M.; Tortola, M.
Title Neutrino mass ordering at DUNE: An extra nu bonus Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Physical Review D Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. D
Volume 100 Issue 9 Pages 093004 - 10pp
Keywords
Abstract We study the possibility of extracting the neutrino mass ordering at the future Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment using atmospheric neutrinos, which will be available before the muon neutrino beam starts being operational. The large statistics of the atmospheric muon neutrino and antineutrino samples at the far detector, together with the baselines of thousands of kilometers that these atmospheric (anti) neutrinos travel, provide ideal ingredients to extract the neutrino mass ordering via matter effects in the neutrino propagation through Earth. Crucially, muon capture by argon provides excellent charge tagging, allowing us to disentangle the neutrino and antineutrino signature. This is an important extra benefit of having a liquid argon time projection chamber as a far detector, that could render an similar to 3.5 sigma extraction of the mass ordering after approximately 7 yr of exposure.
Address [Ternes, Christoph A.; Gariazzo, Stefano; Hajjar, Rasmi; Mena, Olga; Sorel, Michel; Tortola, Mariam] Univ Valencia, Inst Fis Corpuscular, CSIC, Paterna 46980, Spain, Email: chternes@ific.uv.es;
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Amer Physical Soc Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2470-0010 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000498060600001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration (down) no
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 4205
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Author Pompa, F.; Capozzi, F.; Mena, O.; Sorel, M.
Title Absolute nu Mass Measurement with the DUNE Experiment Type Journal Article
Year 2022 Publication Physical Review Letters Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. Lett.
Volume 129 Issue 12 Pages 121802 - 6pp
Keywords
Abstract Time of flight delay in the supernova neutrino signal offers a unique tool to set model-independent constraints on the absolute neutrino mass. The presence of a sharp time structure during a first emission phase, the so-called neutronization burst in the electron neutrino flavor time distribution, makes this channel a very powerful one. Large liquid argon underground detectors will provide precision measurements of the time dependence of the electron neutrino fluxes. We derive here a new v mass sensitivity attainable at the future DUNE far detector from a future supernova collapse in our galactic neighborhood, finding a sub-eV reach under favorable scenarios. These values are competitive with those expected for laboratory direct neutrino mass searches.
Address [Pompa, Federica; Capozzi, Francesco; Mena, Olga; Sorel, Michel] Univ Valencia, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, CSIC, Parc Cientif UV, c Catedrat Jose Beltran 2, Paterna 46980, Spain, Email: federica.pompa@ific.uv.es;
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Amer Physical Soc Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0031-9007 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes WOS:000861178800003 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration (down) no
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5366
Permanent link to this record