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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Boosting background suppression in the NEXT experiment through Richardson-Lucy deconvolution

Next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiments aim for half-life sensitivities of ~ 10 27 yr, requiring suppressing backgrounds to < 1 count/tonne/yr. For this, any extra background rejection handle, beyond excellent energy resolution and the use of extremely radiopure materials, is of utmost importance. The NEXT experiment exploits differences in the spatial ionization patterns of double beta decay and single-electron events to discriminate signal from background. While the former display two Bragg peak dense ionization regions at the opposite ends of the track, the latter typically have only one such feature. Thus, comparing the energies at the track extremes provides an additional rejection tool. The unique combination of the topology-based background discrimination and excellent energy resolution (1% FWHM at the Q-value of the decay) is the distinguishing feature of NEXT. Previous studies demonstrated a topological background rejection factor of ~ 5 when reconstructing electron-positron pairs in the 208Tl 1.6 MeV double escape peak (with Compton events as background), recorded in the NEXT-White demonstrator at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc, with 72% signal efficiency. This was recently improved through the use of a deep convolutional neural network to yield a background rejection factor of ~ 10 with 65% signal efficiency. Here, we present a new reconstruction method, based on the Richardson-Lucy deconvolution algorithm, which allows reversing the blurring induced by electron diffusion and electroluminescence light production in the NEXT TPC. The new method yields highly refined 3D images of reconstructed events, and, as a result, significantly improves the topological background discrimination. When applied to real-data 1.6 MeV e - e + pairs, it leads to a background rejection factor of 27 at 57% signal efficiency.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sensitivity of the NEXT experiment to Xe-124 double electron capture

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 78 Kr, 130 Ba and, recently, 124 Xe. 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 124 Xe 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 124 Xe-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 124 Xe and for a 5-year run, a sensitivity to the 2$\nu$EC EC half-life of 6 × 10 22 y (at 90% confidence level) or better can be reached.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Removal of radon progeny from delicate surfaces

210 Po α-decay-driven neutron background is a concern for many rare event search experiments. It is a difficult to control background because its radiogenic component depends on the air exposure history of parts. In this study, we demonstrate that about half of the radon progeny 210 Po can be removed from copper and silicon surfaces relatively easily by wiping a copper sample with acetone-wetted tissue and a silicon detector with acetone soaked cotton balls. For a copper sample, we demonstrate that long-lived 210 Pb is removed with similar effectiveness. For copper, allocated the longest counting time, additional wiping was found to be largely ineffective. For silicon, the removal effectiveness has large uncertainties. Additional cleaning showed a small but statistically significant effect. Here, capitalizing on this trivial cleaning step will allow experiments to relax their requirements on the allowable air exposure time during construction, leading to cost and time savings.

Radioactivity↗
DOE OSTI2021

Performance of a large area photon detector for rare event search applications

We present the design and characterization of a large-area Cryogenic PhotoDetector designed for active particle identification in rare event searches, such as neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter experiments. The detector consists of a 45.6 cm 2 surface area by a 1-mm-thick 10.6 g Si wafer. It is instrumented with a distributed network of Quasiparticle-trap-assisted Electrothermal feedback Transition-edge sensors with superconducting critical temperature T c = 41.5 mK to measure a thermal phonons released from interactions with photons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

DIREXENO—an apparatus for measuring correlated scintillation signatures in liquid xenon

We present a detector apparatus, DIREXENO (DIREctional XENOn), designed to measure the spatial and temporal properties of scintillation in liquid xenon to very high accuracy. The properties of scintillation are of primary importance for dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay experiments; however the complicated microphysics involved limits theoretical predictions. We will explore the possibility that scintillation emission exhibits spatial correlations such as super-radiance which manifests in temporal and spatial structure, depending on the interaction type. Such properties of scintillation light may open a new window for background rejection as well as directionality measurements. We present the apparatus' technical design and the concepts driving it. We demonstrate that for an energy deposition of ~2.5 keV (~7.5 keV) electron (nuclear) recoil the detector is sensitive to an anisotropy fraction of as little as ~ 20% of the total photons emitted over a solid angle of ~0.85 steradian or less. We show results from commissioning runs in which the detector operated with 17 PMTs for over 44 days in stable conditions. The time resolution for individual photons in different PMTs was measured to be ≲1.4 ns full-width at half-maximum

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Demonstration of background rejection using deep convolutional neural networks in the NEXT experiment

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 $^{136}$Xe. 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 $^{228}$Th 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.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sensitivity of a tonne-scale NEXT detector for neutrinoless double-beta decay searches

The Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC (NEXT) searches for the neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of 136 Xe using high-pressure xenon gas TPCs with electroluminescent amplification. A scaled-up version of this technology with about 1 tonne of enriched xenon could reach in less than 5 years of operation a sensitivity to the half-life of 0νββ decay better than 10 27 years, improving the current limits by at least one order of magnitude. This prediction is based on a well-understood background model dominated by radiogenic sources. The detector concept presented here represents a first step on a compelling path towards sensitivity to the parameter space defined by the inverted ordering of neutrino masses, and beyond.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Demonstration of neutrinoless double beta decay searches in gaseous xenon with NEXT

The NEXT experiment aims at the sensitive search of the neutrinoless double beta decay in 136 Xe, using high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chambers. The NEXT-White detector is the first radiopure demonstrator of this technology, operated in the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc. Achieving an energy resolution of 1% FWHM at 2.6 MeV and further background rejection by means of the topology of the reconstructed tracks, NEXT-White has been exploited beyond its original goals in order to perform a neu- trinoless double beta decay search. The analysis considers the combination of 271.6 days of 136 Xe-enriched data and 208.9 days of 136Xe-depleted data. A detailed background modeling and measurement has been developed, ensuring the time stability of the radiogenic and cosmogenic contributions across both data samples. Limits to the neutrinoless mode are obtained in two alternative analyses: a background-model-dependent approach and a novel direct background-subtraction technique, offering results with small dependence on the background model assumptions. With a fiducial mass of only 3.50 ± 0.01 kg of 136 Xe-enriched xenon, 90% C.L. lower limits to the neutrinoless double beta decay are found in the $T^{0v}_{1/2} > 5.5 \times 10^{23} - 1.3 \times 10^{24}$ yr range, depending on the method. The presented techniques stand as a proof-of-concept for the searches to be implemented with larger NEXT detectors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Low-diffusion Xe-He gas mixtures for rare-event detection: electroluminescence yield

High pressure xenon Time Projection Chambers (TPC) based on secondary scintillation (electroluminescence) signal amplification are being proposed for rare event detection such as directional dark matter, double electron capture and double beta decay detection. The discrimination of the rare event through the topological signature of primary ionisation trails is a major asset for this type of TPC when compared to single liquid or double-phase TPCs, limited mainly by the high electron diffusion in pure xenon. Helium admixtures with xenon can be an attractive solution to reduce the electron diffusion significantly, improving the discrimination efficiency of these optical TPCs. We have measured the electroluminescence (EL) yield of Xe-He mixtures, in the range of 0 to 30% He and demonstrated the small impact on the EL yield of the addition of helium to pure xenon. For a typical reduced electric field of 2.5 kV/cm/bar in the scintillation region, the EL yield is lowered by ~ 2%, 3%, 6% and 10% for 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of helium concentration, respectively. This decrease is less than what has been obtained from the most recent simulation framework in the literature. The impact of the addition of helium on EL statistical fluctuations is negligible, within the experimental uncertainties. The present results are an important benchmark for the simulation tools to be applied to future optical TPCs based on Xe-He mixtures.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Axion dark matter detection by superconducting resonant frequency conversion

We propose an approach to search for axion dark matter with a specially designed superconducting radio frequency cavity, targeting axions with masses ma ≲ 10 -6 eV. Our approach exploits axion-induced transitions between nearly degenerate resonant modes of frequency ~ GHz. A scan over axion mass is achieved by varying the frequency splitting between the two modes. Compared to traditional approaches, this allows for parametrically enhanced signal power for axions lighter than a GHz. The projected sensitivity covers unexplored parameter space for QCD axion dark matter for 10 -8 eV ≲ ma ≲ 10 -6 eV and axion-like particle dark matter as light as ma~ 10 -14 eV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reconstructing neutrinoless double beta decay event kinematics in a xenon gas detector with vertex tagging

If neutrinoless double beta decay is discovered, the next natural step would be understanding the lepton number violating physics responsible for it. Several alternatives exist beyond the exchange of light neutrinos. Some of these mechanisms can be distinguished by measuring phase-space observables, namely the opening angle cos θ among the two decay electrons, and the electron energy spectra, T 1 and T 2 . In this work, we study the statistical accuracy and precision in measuring these kinematic observables in a future xenon gas detector with the added capability to precisely locate the decay vertex. For realistic detector conditions (a gas pressure of 10 bar and spatial resolution of 4 mm), we find that the average $\overline{cos θ}$ and $\overline{T_1}$ values can be reconstructed with a precision of 0.19 and 110 keV, respectively, assuming that only 10 neutrinoless double beta decay events are detected.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for solar axions produced through the axion-electron coupling gae using a new GridPix detector at CAST

We present a search for solar axions produced through the axion-electron coupling (g ae ) using data from a novel 7-GridPix detector installed at the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). The detector, featuring ultra-thin silicon nitride windows and multiple veto systems, collected approximately 160 hours of solar tracking data between 2017–2018. Using machine learning techniques and the veto systems, we achieved a background rate of 1.06 × 10 −5 keV −1 cm −2 s −1 at a signal efficiency of about 80% in the 0.2 to 8 keV range. Analysis of the data yielded no significant excess above background, allowing us to set a new upper limit on the product of the axion-electron and axion-photon couplings of g ae · g aγ < 7.35 × 10 −23 GeV −1 at 95% confidence level for axion masses below 10 meV. This result improves upon the previous best helioscope limit and demonstrates the potential of GridPix technology for rare event searches. Additionally, we derived a limit on the axion-photon coupling of g aγ < 9.0 × 10 −11 GeV −1 at 95% CL, which, while not surpassing CAST’s best limit, provides complementary constraints on axion models.

Beyond Standard Model↗
DOE OSTI2022

Muon track reconstruction in a segmented bolometric array using multi-objective optimization

Recent advances in segmented solid-state detector arrays for rare-event searches have allowed the technology to approach the ton-scale in detector mass and the scale of meters in size. Often focused around searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay or direct dark matter detection, such experiments also have the capability to search for exotic particles that leave track-like signatures across their volume. However, the segmented nature of such detector arrays often sets the spatial resolution and makes the problem of reconstructing track-like paths non-trivial. Here, in this paper, we present an algorithm that improves reconstruction of track-like events in segmented detectors using multi-objective optimization — a computational technique that optimizes more than one cost function at a time without specifying a quantitative weighting between them. Such a technique allows the reconstruction of tracks through a detector and the determination of path-lengths through individual elements. When combined with the reconstructed energy depositions in each element this allows for a calculation of the stopping power of track-like particles and opens the door to searches for particles with abnormal stopping power like monopoles or lightly-ionizing particles (LIPs). Results are presented which evaluate the precision of the reconstruction tools as they currently stand against Monte Carlo generated data. The algorithm is presented in the context of the CUORE experiment, but has applications to other segmented calorimeter detectors.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Reflectivity and PDE of VUV4 Hamamatsu SiPMs in liquid xenon

Considering reflective properties of materials and photodetection efficiency (PDE) of photodetectors is important for optimizing energy resolution and sensitivity of the next generation neutrinoless double beta decay, direct detection dark matter, and neutrino oscillation experiments that will use noble liquid gases, such as nEXO, DARWIN, DarkSide-20k, and DUNE . Little information is currently available about reflectivity and PDE in liquid noble gases, because such measurements are difficult to conduct in a cryogenic environment and at short enough wavelengths. Here we report a measurement of specular reflectivity and relative PDE of Hamamatsu VUV4 silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with 50 μ m micro-cells conducted with xenon scintillation light ( ~ 175 nm) in liquid xenon. The specular reflectivity at 15 o incidence of three samples of VUV4 SiPMs is found to be 30.4 ± 1.4%, 28.6 ± 1.3%, and 28.0 ± 1.3%, respectively. The PDE at normal incidence differs by ± 8% (standard deviation) among the three devices. The angular dependence of the reflectivity and PDE was further measured for one of the SiPMs. Both the reflectivity and PDE decrease as the angle of incidence increases. This is the first measurement of an angular dependence of PDE and reflectivity of a SiPM in liquid xenon.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

New Theories for Neutrino Masses and Dark Matter

The main goal of the project is to investigate new theories for neutrino masses and dark matter, and understand their testability in different experiments. The PI proposed several mechanisms for neutrino masses in the context of B-L theories, left-right symmetric theories, supersymmetric theories and grand unified theories. The PI would like to investigate new ways to understand the origin of neutrino masses where the seesaw scale is in the multi-TeV region. One can have a multi-TeV seesaw scale in scenarios where the same symmetry relevant for neutrino masses defines the dark matter relic density, or in the minimal supersymmetric theory based on local B-L. In these theories one can have new ways to understand the testability of the origin of neutrino masses at colliders and low energy experiments. In these theories one predicts the possibility to observe lepton number violating signatures at the LHC, one can predict large contributions to lepton number violating processes such as mu to e conversion, neutrinoless double beta decay experiments and others. The nature of the dark matter in the Universe is one of the most important problems in cosmology. Two of the most popular candidates are the Axions and the Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The PI would like to investigate the implications of a new electroweak theta term similar to the QCD vacuum angle but in the SU(2) gauge sector of the SM which is physical if the baryon and lepton numbers are broken symmetries. We will investigate the implications of having a new electroweak theta term dark matter portal, the implications for baryogenesis and understand the constraints coming from different experiments such as the searches for electric dipole moments and axion experiments. The implications of having the electroweak theta term in theories with different sources of baryon and lepton number violation will be investigated. WIMPs are perhaps the most appealing candidates for many reasons. The PI would like to investigate the properties of WIMPs in different gauge theories, study the implications of the cosmological bounds on the WIMPs relic density for the symmetry breaking scale in models for new physics. The PI would like to investigate in great detail the predictions for gamma lines, neutrino lines and other striking signatures which can be present in these theories. These studies can have a profound impact in the testability of different theories for physics beyond the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

First results of the CAST-RADES haloscope search for axions at 34.67 μ eV

We present results of the Relic Axion Dark-Matter Exploratory Setup (RADES), a detector which is part of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), searching for axion dark matter in the 34.67 μeV mass range. A radio frequency cavity consisting of 5 sub-cavities coupled by inductive irises took physics data inside the CAST dipole magnet for the first time using this filter-like haloscope geometry. An exclusion limit with a 95% credibility level on the axion-photon coupling constant of g aγ ≳ 4 × 10 -13 GeV -1 over a mass range of 34.6738 μeV < m a < 34.6771 μeV is set. This constitutes a significant improvement over the current strongest limit set by CAST at this mass and is at the same time one of the most sensitive direct searches for an axion dark matter candidate above the mass of 25 μeV. The results also demonstrate the feasibility of exploring a wider mass range around the value probed by CAST-RADES in this work using similar coherent resonant cavities.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding the enhancement of scintillation light in xenon-doped liquid argon

Measuring the scintillation light in noble gases is an important detection technique in particle physics. Numerous rare event searches like neutrino beam experiments, neutrino-less double beta-decay, and dark matter searches use argon-based detectors. In liquid argon, the light yield can be enhanced by the addition of a small quantity of xenon, where ~10–1000 ppm are added. The general enhancement mechanism and its pathway via an energy transfer between argon and xenon excimers is well known, however the importance of absorption of argon excimer emission by atomic xenon has not been fully appreciated. This absorption significantly reduces the light yield in commercially available argon (extracted from air) which contains trace amounts (~0.1 ppm) of xenon. The addition of a small xenon dopant of ~10 ppm recovers this lost light resulting in an increased light yield over un-doped argon of about a factor of two. Here, in this paper, we introduce a model for the light production in xenon doped argon, including absorption and re-emission, and compare it to the measured time dependence of light emission in xenon-doped argon.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Opportunities at the Sanford Underground Research Facility

The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) has been operating for more than 15 years as an international facility dedicated to advancing compelling multidisciplinary underground scientific research in rare-process physics, as well as offering research opportunities in other disciplines. SURF laboratory facilities include a Surface Campus as well as campuses at the 4850-foot level (1490 m, 4300 m.w.e.) that host a range of significant physics experiments, including the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) dark matter experiment and the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment. The CASPAR nuclear astrophysics accelerator completed the first phase of operation and is planning for the second phase beginning in 2024. SURF is also home to the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) that will host the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). SURF offers world-class service, including an ultra-low background environment, low-background assay capabilities, and electroformed copper is produced at the facility. SURF is preparing to increase underground laboratory space. Plans are advancing for construction of new large caverns (nominally 100m L x 20m W x 24m H) on the 4850L (1485 m, 4100 mwe) on the timeframe of next-generation experiments (~2030). SURF plans to leverage existing advisory and community committees as well as engage the underground science community to inform plans for future laboratory space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗