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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 (down) 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 no
Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 675
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Author Oliveira, C.A.B.; Sorel, M.; Martin-Albo, J.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Ferreira, A.L.; Veloso, J.F.C.A.
Title Energy resolution studies for NEXT Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.
Volume (down) 6 Issue Pages P05007 - 13pp
Keywords Scintillators, scintillation and light emission processes (solid, gas and liquid scintillators); Detector modelling and simulations II (electric fields, charge transport, multiplication and induction, pulse formation, electron emission etc); Large detector systems for particle and astroparticle physics; Time projection chambers
Abstract This work aims to present the current state of simulations of electroluminescence (EL) produced in gas-based detectors with special interest for NEXT – Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC. NEXT is a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment, thus needs outstanding energy resolution which can be achieved by using electroluminescence. The process of light production is reviewed and properties such as EL yield and associated fluctuations, excitation and electroluminescence efficiencies, and energy resolution, are calculated. An EL production region with a 5 mm width gap between two infinite parallel planes is considered, where a uniform electric field is produced. The pressure and temperature considered are 10 bar and 293 K, respectively. The results show that, even for low values of VUV photon detection efficiency, good energy resolution can be achieved: below 0.4% (FWHM) at Q(beta beta) = 2.458 MeV.
Address [Oliveira, CAB; Ferreira, AL; Veloso, JFCA] Univ Aveiro, Dept Phys, i3N, P-3810193 Aveiro, Portugal, Email: carlos.oliveira@ua.pt
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:000294491900008 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 747
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Author NEXT Collaboration (Martin-Albo, J. et al); Muñoz Vidal, J.; Ferrario, P.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Laing, A.; Liubarsky, I.; Lopez-March, N.; Lorca, D.; Martinez, A.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, P.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title Sensitivity of NEXT-100 to neutrinoless double beta decay Type Journal Article
Year 2016 Publication Journal of High Energy Physics Abbreviated Journal J. High Energy Phys.
Volume (down) 05 Issue 5 Pages 159 - 30pp
Keywords Dark Matter and Double Beta Decay (experiments); Rare decay
Abstract NEXT-100 is an electroluminescent high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber that will search for the neutrinoless double beta (0v beta beta) decay of Xe-136. The detector possesses two features of great value for 0v beta beta searches: energy resolution better than 1% FWHM at the Q value of Xe-136 and track reconstruction for the discrimination of signal and background events. This combination results in excellent sensitivity, as discussed in this paper. Material-screening measurements and a detailed Monte Carlo detector simulation predict a background rate for NEXT-100 of at most 4 x 10(-4) counts keV(-1) kg(-1) yr(-1). Accordingly, the detector will reach a sensitivity to the 0v beta beta-decay half-life of 2.8 x 10(25) years (90% CL) for an exposure of 100 kg.year, or 6.0 x 10(25) years after a run of 3 effective years.
Address [Martin-Albo, J.; Munoz Vidal, J.; Ferrario, P.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J. V.; Cervera, A.; Diaz, J.; Laing, A.; Liubarsky, I.; Lopez-March, N.; Lorca, D.; Martinez, A.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Calle Catedrat Jose Beltran 2, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: justo.martin-albo@ific.uv.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:000391745200003 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2928
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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 (down) 03 Issue 3 Pages 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 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 (down) 02 Issue 2 Pages 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 NEXT Collaboration (Martinez-Lema, G. et al); Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Felkai, R.; Kekic, M.; Lopez-March, N.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Martinez-Vara, M.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Uson, A.; Yahlali, N.
Title Sensitivity of the NEXT experiment to Xe-124 double electron capture Type Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Journal of High Energy Physics Abbreviated Journal J. High Energy Phys.
Volume (down) 02 Issue 2 Pages 203 - 25pp
Keywords Dark Matter and Double Beta Decay (experiments)
Abstract Double electron capture by proton-rich nuclei is a second-order nuclear process analogous to double beta decay. Despite their similarities, the decay signature is quite different, potentially providing a new channel to measure the hypothesized neutrinoless mode of these decays. The Standard-Model-allowed two-neutrino double electron capture (2 nu EC EC) has been predicted for a number of isotopes, but only observed in Kr-78, Ba-130 and, recently, Xe-124. The sensitivity to this decay establishes a benchmark for the ultimate experimental goal, namely the potential to discover also the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless version of this process, 0 nu EC EC. Here we report on the current sensitivity of the NEXT-White detector to Xe-124 2 nu EC EC and on the extrapolation to NEXT-100. Using simulated data for the 2 nu EC EC signal and real data from NEXT-White operated with Xe-124-depleted gas as background, we define an optimal event selection that maximizes the NEXT-White sensitivity. We estimate that, for NEXT-100 operated with xenon gas isotopically enriched with 1 kg of Xe-124 and for a 5-year run, a sensitivity to the 2 nu EC EC half-life of 6 x 10(22) y (at 90% confidence level) or better can be reached.
Address [Goldschmidt, A.; Hauptman, J.; Laing, A.; Martinez, A.; Para, A.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: gonzalo.martinez.lema@weizmann.ac.il
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:000624564800002 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 4749
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Ferrario, P. et al); Laing, A.; Lopez-March, N.; Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera-Villanueva, A.; Diaz, J.; Liubarsky, I.; Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monserrate, M.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.
Title First proof of topological signature in the high pressure xenon gas TPC with electroluminescence amplification for the NEXT experiment Type Journal Article
Year 2016 Publication Journal of High Energy Physics Abbreviated Journal J. High Energy Phys.
Volume (down) 01 Issue 1 Pages 104 - 18pp
Keywords Dark Matter; Double Beta Decay
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. One of the main advantages of this technology is the possibility to reconstruct the topology of events with energies close to Q(beta beta). This paper presents the first demonstration that the topology provides extra handles to reject background events using data obtained with the NEXT-DEMO prototype. Single electrons resulting from the interactions of Na-22 1275 keV gammas and electron-positron pairs produced by conversions of gammas from the Th-228 decay chain were used to represent the background and the signal in a double beta decay. These data were used to develop algorithms for the reconstruction of tracks and the identification of the energy deposited at the end-points, providing an extra background rejection factor of 24.3 +/- 1.4 (stat.)%, while maintaining an efficiency of 66.7 +/- 1.% for signal events.
Address [Ferrario, P.; Laing, A.; Lopez-March, N.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Alvarez, V.; Carcel, S.; Cervera, A.; Diaz, J.; Liubarsky, I.; Lorca, D.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monserrate, M.; Munoz Vidal, J.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Serra, L.; Simon, A.; Sorel, M.; Yahlali, N.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Jose Beltran 2, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: paola.ferrario@ific.uv.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:000370438900001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2560
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author NEXT Collaboration (Kekic, M. et al); Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J.V.; Diaz, J.; Felkai, R.; Lopez-March, N.; Martin-Albo, J.; Martinez, A.; Martinez-Lema, G.; Martinez-Vara, M.; Muñoz Vidal, J.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Querol, M.; Renner, J.; Romo-Luque, C.; Sorel, M.; Uson, A.; Yahlali, N.
Title Demonstration of background rejection using deep convolutional neural networks in the NEXT experiment Type Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Journal of High Energy Physics Abbreviated Journal J. High Energy Phys.
Volume (down) 01 Issue 1 Pages 189 - 22pp
Keywords Dark Matter and Double Beta Decay (experiments)
Abstract Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely used state-of-the-art computer vision tools that are becoming increasingly popular in high-energy physics. In this paper, we attempt to understand the potential of CNNs for event classification in the NEXT experiment, which will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in Xe-136. To do so, we demonstrate the usage of CNNs for the identification of electron-positron pair production events, which exhibit a topology similar to that of a neutrinoless double-beta decay event. These events were produced in the NEXT-White high-pressure xenon TPC using 2.6 MeV gamma rays from a Th-228 calibration source. We train a network on Monte Carlo-simulated events and show that, by applying on-the-fly data augmentation, the network can be made robust against differences between simulation and data. The use of CNNs offers significant improvement in signal efficiency and background rejection when compared to previous non-CNN-based analyses.
Address [Hauptman, J.; Nygren, D. R.] Iowa State Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, 12 Phys Hall, Ames, IA 50011 USA, Email: marija.kekic@usc.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:000616730800001 Approved no
Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes
Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 4729
Permanent link to this record