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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.; Laing, A.; 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 Description and commissioning of NEXT-MM prototype: first results from operation in a Xenon-Trimethylamine gas mixture Type Journal Article
Year 2014 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 9 Issue Pages P03010 - 22pp
Keywords (down) Time projection chambers; Particle tracking detectors (Gaseous detectors); Double-beta decay detectors
Abstract A technical description of NEXT-MM and its commissioning and first performance is reported. Having an active volume of similar to 35 cm drift x 28 cm diameter, it constitutes the largest Micromegas-read TPC operated in Xenon ever constructed, made by a sectorial arrangement of the 4 largest single wafers manufactured with the Microbulk technique to date. It is equipped with a suitably pixelized readout and with a sufficiently large sensitive volume (similar to 23 l) so as to contain long (similar to 20 cm) electron tracks. First results obtained at 1 bar for Xenon and Trymethylamine (Xe-(2%) TMA) mixture are presented. The TPC can accurately reconstruct extended background tracks. An encouraging full-width half-maximum of 11.6% was obtained for similar to 29 keV gammas without resorting to any data post-processing.
Address [Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera, A.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Gil, A.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Laing, A.; 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: gomez@lal.in2p3.fr;
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:000336123200070 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1800
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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.; Querol, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title Radiopurity assessment of the tracking readout for the NEXT double beta decay experiment Type Journal Article
Year 2015 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 10 Issue Pages P05006 - 16pp
Keywords (down) Radiation calculations; Time projection Chambers (TPC); Double-beta decay detectors; Particle tracking detectors (Gaseous detectors)
Abstract The “Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon Time-Projection Chamber” (NEXT) is intended to investigate the neutrinoless double beta decay of Xe-136, which requires a severe suppression of potential backgrounds; therefore, an extensive screening and selection process is underway to control the radiopurity levels of the materials to be used in the experimental set-up of NEXT. The detector design combines the measurement of the topological signature of the event for background discrimination with the energy resolution optimization. Separate energy and tracking readout planes are based on different sensors: photomultiplier tubes for calorimetry and silicon multi-pixel photon counters for tracking. The design of a radiopure tracking plane, in direct contact with the gas detector medium, was specially challenging since the needed components like printed circuit boards, connectors, sensors or capacitors have typically, according to available information in databases and in the literature, activities too large for experiments requiring ultra-low background conditions. Here, the radiopurity assessment of tracking readout components based on gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (Spain) is described. According to the obtained results, radiopure enough printed circuit boards made of kapton and copper, silicon photomultipliers and other required components, fulfilling the requirement of an overall background level in the region of interest of at most 8 x 10(-4) counts keV(-1) kg(-1) y(-1), have been identified.
Address [Cebrian, S.; Dafni, T.; Gonzalez-Diaz, D.; Herrera, D. C.; Irastorza, I. G.; Luzon, G.; Ortiz de Solorzano, A.; Villar, J. A.] Univ Zaragoza, Lab Fis Nucl & Astroparticulas, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain, Email: scebrian@unizar.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:000357993300038 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2305
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Author Renner, J.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Hernando, J.A.; Izmaylov, A.; Monrabal, F.; Muñoz, J.; Nygren, D.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.
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 (down) 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 [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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Alvarez, V. et al); 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.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title Operation and first results of the NEXT-DEMO prototype using a silicon photomultiplier tracking array Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 8 Issue Pages P09011 - 20pp
Keywords (down) Pattern recognition, cluster finding, calibration and fitting methods; Double-beta decay detectors; Particle tracking detectors (Gaseous detectors); Time projection chambers
Abstract NEXT-DEMO is a high-pressure xenon gas TPC which acts as a technological test-bed and demonstrator for the NEXT-100 neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. In its current configuration the apparatus fully implements the NEXT-100 design concept. This is an asymmetric TPC, with an energy plane made of photomultipliers and a tracking plane made of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) coated with TPB. The detector in this new configuration has been used to reconstruct the characteristic signature of electrons in dense gas, demonstrating the ability to identify the MIP and “blob” regions. Moreover, the SiPM tracking plane allows for the definition of a large fiducial region in which an excellent energy resolution of 1.82% FWHM at 511 keV has been measured (a value which extrapolates to 0.83% at the xenon Q(beta beta)).
Address [Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera, 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.; 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: andrew.laing@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:000326680200025 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1653
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Author Loya Villalpando, A.A.; Martin-Albo, J.; Chen, W.T.; Guenette, R.; Lego, C.; Park, J.S.; Capasso, F.
Title Improving the light collection efficiency of silicon photomultipliers through the use of metalenses Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 15 Issue 11 Pages P11021 - 13pp
Keywords (down) Optical detector readout concepts; Solid state detectors; Dark Matter detectors (WIMPS, axions, etc); Double-beta decay detectors
Abstract Metalenses are optical devices that implement nanostructures as phase shifters to focus incident light. Their compactness and simple fabrication make them a potential cost-effective solution for increasing light collection efficiency in particle detectors with limited photosensitive area coverage. Here we report on the characterization and performance of metalenses in increasing the light collection efficiency of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) of various sizes using an LED of 630 nm, and find a six to seven-fold increase in signal for a 1.3 x 1 3 mm(2) SiPM when coupled with a 10-mm-diameter metalens manufactured using deep ultraviolet stepper lithography. Such improvements could be valuable for future generations of particle detectors, particularly those employed in rare-event searches such as dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay.
Address [Villalpando, A. A. Loya; Martin-Albo, J.; Guenette, R.; Lego, C.] Harvard Univ, Dept Phys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Email: aloyavil@caltech.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:000595650800009 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 4634
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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 (down) 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 yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5915
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Author Freitas, E.D.C.; Monteiro, C.M.B.; Ball, M.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Lopes, J.A.M.; Lux, T.; Sanchez, F.; dos Santos, J.M.F.
Title Secondary scintillation yield in high-pressure xenon gas for neutrinoless double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) search Type Journal Article
Year 2010 Publication Physics Letters B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Lett. B
Volume 684 Issue 4-5 Pages 205-210
Keywords (down) Neutrino; Neutrinoless double-beta decay; Secondary scintillation; Xenon; High-pressure
Abstract The search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) is an important topic in contemporary physics with many active experiments. New projects are planning to use high-pressure xenon gas as both source and detection medium. The secondary scintillation processes available in noble gases permit large amplification with negligible statistical fluctuations, offering the prospect of energy resolution approaching the Fano factor limit. This Letter reports results for xenon secondary scintillation yield, at room temperature, as a function of electric field in the gas scintillation gap for pressures ranging from 2 to 10 bar. A Large Area Avalanche Photodiode (LAAPD) collected the VUV secondary scintillation produced in the gas. X-rays directly absorbed in the LAAPD are used as a reference for determining the number of charge carriers produced by the scintillation pulse and, hence, the number of photons impinging the LAAPD. The number of photons produced per drifting electron and per kilovolt, the so-called scintillation amplification parameter, displays a small increase with pressure, ranging from 141 +/- 6 at 2 bar to 170 +/- 10 at 8 bar. In our setup, this Parameter does not increase above 8 bar due to nonnegligible electron attachment. The results are in good agreement with those presented in the literature in the 1 to 3 bar range. The increase of the scintillation amplification parameter with pressure for high gas densities has been also observed in former work at cryogenic temperatures.
Address [Freitas, E. D. C.; Monteiro, C. M. B.; Lopes, J. A. M.; dos Santos, J. M. F.] Univ Coimbra, GIAN CI, Dept Fis, P-3004516 Coimbra, Portugal, Email: jmf@gian.fis.uc.pt
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 0370-2693 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes ISI:000275009600006 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 487
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Author NEXT Collaboration (Renner, J. et al); Martinez-Lema, G.; Alvarez, V.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Botas, A.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Felkai, R.; 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.; Rodriguez, J.; Romo-Luque, C.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title Initial results on energy resolution of the NEXT-White detector Type Journal Article
Year 2018 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume 13 Issue Pages P10020 - 14pp
Keywords (down) Large detector-systems performance; Analysis and statistical methods; Double-beta decay detectors; Time projection chambers
Abstract One of the major goals of the NEXT-White (NEW) detector is to demonstrate the energy resolution that an electroluminescent high pressure xenon TPC can achieve for high energy tracks. For this purpose, energy calibrations with Cs-137 and Th-232 sources have been carried out as a part of the long run taken with the detector during most of 2017. This paper describes the initial results obtained with those calibrations, showing excellent linearity and an energy resolution that extrapolates to approximately 1% FWHM at Q(beta beta).
Address [Adams, C.; Guenette, R.; Martin-Albo, J.] Harvard Univ, Dept Phys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Email: josren@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:000447691000004 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3775
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Felkai, R. et al); Sorel, M.; Lopez-March, N.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Alvarez, V.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Botas, A.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Ferrario, P.; Laing, A.; Martinez, A.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Musti, M.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Perez, J.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Romo-Luque, C.; Rodriguez, J.; Simon, A.; Torrent, J.; Yahlali, N.
Title Helium-Xenon mixtures to improve the topological signature in high pressure gas xenon TPCs Type Journal Article
Year 2018 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A
Volume 905 Issue Pages 82-90
Keywords (down) Helium; Xenon; Double-beta decay; TPC; Low diffusion; Electroluminescence
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.
Address [Adams, C.; Guenette, R.; Martin-Albo, J.] Harvard Univ, Dept Phys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Email: francesc.monrabalcapilla@uta.edu
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:000444425700010 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3731
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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.
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 (down) 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 [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