Solving the Neutrino Mass Mystery using Double Beta Decay. An Examination of the Feasibility of Xennoon Purification and Ion Capture and Release using an Electrostatic Probe
Double beta decay has long been recognized as a useful avenue for the study of electron neutrinos, especially the neutrino mass and its fundamental nature (Majorana or Dirac). Recent neutrino oscillation experiments have provided compelling evidence that the neutrino has mass. The detection of the neutrinoless mode of double beta decay would finally set a lower limit on the mass of the electron neutrino, as well as prove that the neutrino is a Majorana particle (with opposite spin, it is its own anti-particle). The Enriched Xenon Observatory (EXO) project attempts to detect neutrinoless double beta decay using {sup 136}Xe that decays by this process to {sup 136}Ba{sup 2} + e{sup -} + e{sup -}. Perhaps one of the most significant characteristics of this project is the reduction of the background through the identification of the Barium ions for each individual event using laser fluorescence techniques. This project also proposes to collect scintillation light in addition to the ionization electrons in order to further improve energy resolution. Current work at SLAC includes the development of a purification system for xenon, as well as tests for the capture and release of single ions using an electrostatic probe.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 815648
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-TN-03-018; TRN: US0304756
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 5 Sep 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The Enriched Xenon Observatory
Barium Chemosensors with Dry-Phase Fluorescence for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay