Separating double-beta decay events from solar neutrino interactions in a kiloton-scale liquid scintillator detector by fast timing

Cosmic muon spallation backgrounds are ubiquitous in low-background experiments. For liquid scintillator-based experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay, the spallation product 10 C is an important background in the region of interest between 2-3 MeV and determines the depth requirement for the experiment. We have developed an algorithm based on a convolutional neural network that uses the temporal and spatial correlations in light emissions to identify 10 C background events. With a typical kiloton-scale detector configuration like the KamLAND detector, we find that the algorithm is capable of identifying 61.6% of the 10 C at 90% signal acceptance. A detector with perfect light collection could identify 98.2% at 90% signal acceptance. The algorithm is independent of vertex and energy reconstruction, so it is complementary to current methods and can be expanded to other background sources.

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“…This simulation is the same as those used in Ref. [7] and Ref. [8] where more details can be found on the modeling of the LS.…”

Section: Detector Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suppression of cosmic muon spallation backgrounds in liquid scintillator detectors using convolutional neural networks

Elagin

Fraker

et al. 2019

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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“…There is much interest in the community in developing low-threshold directional detectors. Monte Carlo studies in [23,24] discuss how the potential for separation of a Cherenkov signal in a scintillating target could be used to extract particle direction. The CHESS experiment has recently demonstrated first detection of a Cherenkov signal in pure LS (both LAB and LAB/PPO) [25,26].…”

Section: Low-threshold Directional Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of a low threshold directional detector to CNO-cycle solar neutrinos

Bonventre

Gann

2018

Eur. Phys. J. C

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A first measurement of neutrinos from the CNO fusion cycle in the Sun would allow a resolution to the current solar metallicity problem. Detection of these low-energy neutrinos requires a low-threshold detector, while discrimination from radioactive backgrounds in the region of interest is significantly enhanced via directional sensitivity. This combination can be achieved in a water-based liquid scintillator target, which offers enhanced energy resolution beyond a standard water Cherenkov detector. We study the sensitivity of such a detector to CNO neutrinos under various detector and background scenarios, and draw conclusions about the requirements for such a detector to successfully measure the CNO neutrino flux. A detector designed to measure CNO neutrinos could also achieve a few-percent measurement of pep neutrinos.

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“…Additionally, many future scintillator detectors hope to separate the Cherenkov light component from the scintillation component using the prompt nature of Cherenkov light. However, PMTs with broad transit time spreads make this difficult to accomplish [14]. As is shown in [18] the separation of Cherenkov and scinillation light has been demonstrated using 1" PMTs, with very fast timing.…”

Section: Single Photoelectron Characterization (Spe)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the Hamamatsu 8” R5912-MOD Photomultiplier tube

Kaptanoglu

2018

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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Current and future neutrino and direct detection dark matter experiments hope to take advantage of improving technologies in photon detection. Many of these detectors are large, monolithic optical detectors that use relatively low-cost, large-area, and efficient photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). A candidate PMT for future experiments is a newly developed prototype Hamamatsu PMT, the R5912-MOD. In this paper we describe measurements made of the single photoelectron time and charge response of the R5912-MOD, as well as detail some direct comparisons to similar PMTs. Additionally, a 1D scan of the photocathode and an after pulsing measurement were performed. Most of these measurements were performed on three R5912-MOD PMTs operating at gains close to 1×10 7 . The transit time spread (σ) and the charge peak-to-valley were measured to be on average 680ps and 4.2 respectively. The results of this paper show the R5912-MOD is an excellent candidate for future experiments in several regards, particularly due to its narrow spread in timing.

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Separating double-beta decay events from solar neutrino interactions in a kiloton-scale liquid scintillator detector by fast timing

Cited by 31 publications

References 18 publications

Suppression of cosmic muon spallation backgrounds in liquid scintillator detectors using convolutional neural networks

Suppression of cosmic muon spallation backgrounds in liquid scintillator detectors using convolutional neural networks

Sensitivity of a low threshold directional detector to CNO-cycle solar neutrinos

Characterization of the Hamamatsu 8” R5912-MOD Photomultiplier tube

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