Double Beta Decay in Xenon-136. Measuring the Neutrino-Emitting Mode and Searching for Majoron-Emitting Modes

Herrin, S.

doi:10.2172/1091528

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The EXO-200 event reconstruction software identifies electronics noise-induced events with noise-finding algorithms. Unphysical signals such as large initial negative signals on the collection wires, simultaneous saturation of most channels, and unusual negative pulses in the APDs can trigger the noise finder [21]. Signals appearing to be muon tracks present in both TPC halves in a way which cannot be explained by a muon crossing the cathode are also tagged as noise.…”

Section: Muon Flux Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmogenic backgrounds to 0νββ in EXO-200

Albert¹,

Auty²,

Barbeau³

et al. 2016

J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.

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As neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments become more sensitive and intrinsic radioactivity in detector materials is reduced, previously minor contributions to the background must be understood and eliminated. With this in mind, cosmogenic backgrounds have been studied with the EXO-200 experiment. Using the EXO-200 TPC, the muon flux (through a flat horizontal surface) underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) has been measured to be Φ = 4.07 ± 0.14 (sys) ± 0.03 (stat) × 10 −7 cm −2 s −1 , with a vertical intensity of I v = 2.97 +0.14 −0.13 (sys) ± 0.02 (stat) × 10 −7 cm −2 s −1 sr −1 . Simulations of muon-induced backgrounds identified several potential cosmogenic radionuclides, though only 137 Xe is a significant background for the 136 Xe 0νββ search with EXO-200. Muon-induced neutron backgrounds were measured using γ-rays from neutron capture on the detector materials. This provided a measurement of 137 Xe yield, and a test of the accuracy of the neutron production and transport simulations. The independently measured rates of 136 Xe neutron capture and of 137 Xe decay agree within uncertainties. Geant4 and FLUKA simulations were performed to estimate neutron capture rates, and these estimates agreed to within ∼40% or better with measurements. The ability to identify 136 Xe(n, γ) events will allow for rejection of 137 Xe backgrounds in future 0νββ analyses.

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Section: Muon Flux Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%