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 136Xe 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 1027 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.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Univ. of Texas at Arlington, TX (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
- Contributing Organization:
- NEXT Collaboration; The NEXT Collaboration
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359; AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; AC05-76RL01830; SC0019054
- OSTI ID:
- 1638670
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1825248; OSTI ID: 1863248; OSTI ID: 1863379; OSTI ID: 1908619
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-20-299-ND-SCD; arXiv:2005.06467; PNNL-SA-171999; oai:inspirehep.net:1796355
- Journal Information:
- Journal of High Energy Physics (Online), Vol. 2021, Issue 8; ISSN 1029-8479
- Publisher:
- Springer NatureCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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