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Measurement of radon-induced backgrounds in the NEXT double beta decay experiment

Journal Article · · Journal of High Energy Physics (Online)
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Here, the measurement of the internal $$^{222}$$Rn activity in the NEXT-White detector during the so-called Run-II period with $$^{136}$$Xe-depleted xenon is discussed in detail, together with its implications for double beta decay searches in NEXT. The activity is measured through the alpha production rate induced in the fiducial volume by $$^{222}$$Rn and its alpha-emitting progeny. The specific activity is measured to be $$(38.1\pm 2.2~\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm 5.9~\mathrm{(syst.)})$$~mBq/m$^3$. Radon-induced electrons have also been characterized from the decay of the $$^{214}$$Bi daughter ions plating out on the cathode of the time projection chamber. From our studies, we conclude that radon-induced backgrounds are sufficiently low to enable a successful NEXT-100 physics program, as the projected rate contribution should not exceed 0.1~counts/yr in the neutrinoless double beta decay sample.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
European Research Council (ERC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP) (SC-26)
Contributing Organization:
The NEXT collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; AC02-07CH11359; SC0010813; SC0017721
OSTI ID:
1437298
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1550818
OSTI ID: 1483993
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB--18-093-CD-ND; arXiv:1804.00471; 1665520
Journal Information:
Journal of High Energy Physics (Online), Journal Name: Journal of High Energy Physics (Online) Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 2018; ISSN 1029-8479
Publisher:
Springer BerlinCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (4)

Barium Chemosensors with Dry-Phase Fluorescence for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay journal October 2019
High Pressure Gas Xenon TPCs for Double Beta Decay Searches journal April 2019
High Pressure Gas Xenon TPCs for Double Beta Decay Searches preprint January 2019
Barium Chemosensors with Dry-Phase Fluorescence for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay preprint January 2019

Figures / Tables (16)

Figure 1(p. 4)figure Figure 1
Table 1(p. 7)table Table 1
Figure 2(p. 9)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 9)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 10)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 11)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 12)figure Figure 6
Table 2(p. 12)table Table 2
Table 3(p. 15)table Table 3
Figure 7(p. 16)figure Figure 7
Figure 8(p. 16)figure Figure 8
Figure 8(p. 18)figure Figure 8
Table 4(p. 19)table Table 4
Table 5(p. 20)table Table 5
Figure 10(p. 21)figure Figure 10
Table 6(p. 22)table Table 6

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Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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