Design and characterization of the SiPM tracking system of NEXT-DEMO, a demonstrator prototype of the NEXT-100 experiment

NEXT-100 experiment aims at searching the neutrinoless double-beta decay of the Xe-136 isotope using a TPC filled with a 100 kg of high-pressure gaseous xenon, with 90% isotopic enrichment. The experiment will take place at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC), Spain. NEXT-100 uses electroluminescence (EL) technology for energy measurement with a resolution better than 1% FWHM. The gaseous xenon in the TPC additionally allows the tracks of the two beta particles to be recorded, which are expected to have a length of up to 30 cm at 10 bar pressure. The ability to record the topological signature of the beta beta 0 nu events provides a powerful background rejection factor for the bet…

Mitigation of backgrounds from cosmogenic 137 Xe in xenon gas experiments using 3 He neutron capture

[EN] Xe-136 is used as the target medium for many experiments searching for 0 nu beta beta. Despite underground operation, cosmic muons that reach the laboratory can produce spallation neutrons causing activation of detector materials. A potential background that is difficult to veto using muon tagging comes in the form of Xe-137 created by the capture of neutrons on Xe-136. This isotope decays via beta decay with a half-life of 3.8 min and a Q(beta) of similar to 4.16 MeV. This work proposes and explores the concept of adding a small percentage of He-3 to xenon as a means to capture thermal neutrons and reduce the number of activations in the detector volume. When using this technique we f…

Ba$^{2+}$ ion trapping by organic submonolayer: towards an ultra-low background neutrinoless double beta decay detector

If neutrinos are their own antiparticles, the otherwise-forbidden nuclear reaction known as neutrinoless double beta decay ($\beta\beta 0\nu$) can occur, with a characteristic lifetime which is expected to be very long, making the suppression of backgrounds a daunting task. It has been shown that detecting (``tagging'') the Ba$^{+2}$ dication produced in the double beta decay ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe} \rightarrow {}^{136}$Ba$^{+2}+ 2 e + (2 \nu)$ in a high pressure gas experiment, could lead to a virtually background free experiment. To identify these \Bapp, chemical sensors are being explored as a key tool by the NEXT collaboration . Although used in many fields, the application of such chemose…

Search for the Production of Single Sleptons throughR-Parity Violation inpp¯Collisions ats=1.8  TeV

We report the first search for supersymmetric particles via s-channel production and decay of smuons or muon sneutrinos at hadronic colliders. The data for the two-muon and two-jets final states were collected by the D0 experiment and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 94+/-5 pb(-1). Assuming that R parity is violated via the single coupling lambda(211)('), the number of candidate events is in agreement with expectation from the standard model. Exclusion contours are given in the (m(0),m(1/2)) and (m((χ) over bar),m((ν) over bar)) planes for lambda(211)(')=0.09, 0.08, and 0.07.

Hard single diffraction in p̄p collisions at s=630 and 1800 GeV

Using the D empty set detector, we have studied events produced in (p) over barp collisions that contain large forward regions with very little energy deposition ("rapidity gaps") and concurrent jet production at center-of-mass energies of roots = 630 and 1800 GeV. The fraction of events with forward or central jets associated with rapidity gaps is compared to predictions for hard diffraction. We also extract the momentum loss for scattered protons in such processes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High Voltage Insulation and Gas Absorption of Polymers in High Pressure Argon and Xenon Gases

High pressure gas time projection chambers (HPGTPCs) are made with a variety of materials, many of which have not been well characterized in high pressure noble gas environments. As HPGTPCs are scaled up in size toward ton-scale detectors, assemblies become larger and more complex, creating a need for detailed understanding of how structural supports and high voltage insulators behave. This includes the identification of materials with predictable mechanical properties and without surface charge accumulation that may lead to field deformation or sparking. This paper explores the mechanical and electrical effects of high pressure gas environments on insulating polymers PTFE, HDPE, PEEK, POM …

Radiopurity control in the NEXT-100 double beta decay experiment

An extensive material screening and selection process is underway in the construction of the "Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC" (NEXT), intended to investigate neutrinoless double beta decay using a high-pressure xenon gas TPC filled with 100 kg of Xe enriched in 136Xe. Determination of the radiopurity levels of the materials is based on gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (Spain) and also on Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry. Materials to be used in the shielding, pressure vessel, electroluminescence and high voltage components and energy and tracking readout planes have been already taken into consideration. T…

Radon and material radiopurity assessment for the NEXT double beta decay experiment

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAM

Ratio of Isolated Photon Cross Sections in pp¯ Collisions at √s=630 and 1800 GeV

The inclusive cross section for production of isolated photons has been measured in p (p) over bar collisions at roots = 630 GeV with the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The photons span a transverse energy (E-T) range from 7-49 GeV and have pseudorapidity \eta\ s = 1800 GeV to form a ratio of the cross sections. Comparison of next-to-leading-order QCD with the measured cross section at 630 GeV and the ratio of cross sections show satisfactory agreement in most of the E-T range.

Demonstration of the event identification capabilities of the NEXT-White detector

[EN] In experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay, the possibility of identifying the two emitted electrons is a powerful tool in rejecting background events and therefore improving the overall sensitivity of the experiment. In this paper we present the first measurement of the efficiency of a cut based on the different event signatures of double and single electron tracks, using the data of the NEXT-White detector, the first detector of the NEXT experiment operating underground. Using a 228Th calibration source to produce signal-like and background-like events with energies near 1.6 MeV, a signal efficiency of 71.6 ± 1.5 stat ± 0.3 sys% for a background acceptance of 20.6 ± …

Radiogenic backgrounds in the NEXT double beta decay experiment

[EN] Natural radioactivity represents one of the main backgrounds in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay. Within the NEXT physics program, the radioactivity- induced backgrounds are measured with the NEXT-White detector. Data from 37.9 days of low-background operations at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc with xenon depleted in Xe-136 are analyzed to derive a total background rate of (0.84 +/- 0.02) mHz above 1000 keV. The comparison of data samples with and without the use of the radon abatement system demonstrates that the contribution of airborne-Rn is negligible. A radiogenic background model is built upon the extensive radiopurity screening campaign conducted by the NEX…

Operation and first results of the NEXT-DEMO prototype using a silicon photomultiplier tracking array

NEXT-DEMO is a high-pressure xenon gas TPC which acts as a technological test-bed and demonstrator for the NEXT-100 neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. In its current configuration the apparatus fully implements the NEXT-100 design concept. This is an asymmetric TPC, with an energy plane made of photomultipliers and a tracking plane made of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) coated with TPB. The detector in this new configuration has been used to reconstruct the characteristic signature of electrons in dense gas, demonstrating the ability to identify the MIP and "blob" regions. Moreover, the SiPM tracking plane allows for the definition of a large fiducial region in which an excellent e…

Description and commissioning of NEXT-MM prototype: first results from operation in a Xenon-Trimethylamine gas mixture

[EN] A technical description of NEXT-MM and its commissioning and first performance is reported. Having an active volume of ∼35 cm drift × 28 cm diameter, it constitutes the largest Micromegas-read TPC operated in Xenon ever constructed, made by a sectorial arrangement of the 4 largest single wafers manufactured with the Microbulk technique to date. It is equipped with a suitably pixelized readout and with a sufficiently large sensitive volume (∼23 l) so as to contain long (∼20 cm) electron tracks. First results obtained at 1 bar for Xenon and Trymethylamine (Xe-(2%)TMA) mixture are presented. The TPC can accurately reconstruct extended background tracks. An encouraging fu…

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 decay of Xe-136 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 neutrinoless double-beta decay decay better than 1E27 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 in…

Energy calibration of the NEXT-White detector with 1% resolution near Q ββ of 136Xe

Excellent energy resolution is one of the primary advantages of electroluminescent high pressure xenon TPCs, and searches for rare physics events such as neutrinoless double-beta decay ($\beta\beta0\nu$) require precise energy measurements. Using the NEXT-White detector, developed by the NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) collaboration, we show for the first time that an energy resolution of 1% FWHM can be achieved at 2.6 MeV, establishing the present technology as the one with the best energy resolution of all xenon detectors for $\beta\beta0\nu$ searches.

tt¯production cross section inpp¯collisions ats=1.8TeV

Search for Leptoquark Pairs Decaying intoνν+jetsinpp¯Collisions ats=1.8TeV

We present the results of a search for leptoquark (LQ) pairs in (85.2+/-3.7) pb(-1) of pp* collider data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. We observe no evidence for leptoquark production and set a limit on sigma(pp*-->LQLQ-->nunu+jets) as a function of the mass of the leptoquark (m(LQ)). Assuming the decay LQ-->nuq, we exclude scalar leptoquarks for m(LQ) < 98 GeV/c(2), and vector leptoquarks for m(LQ) < 200 GeV/c(2) and coupling which produces the minimum cross section, at a 95% confidence level.

Multiple jet production at low transverse energies inpp¯collisions ats=1.8TeV

We present data on multiple production of jets with transverse energies near 20 GeV in p (p) over bar collisions at roots=1.8 TeV. QCD calculations in the parton-shower approximation of PYTHIA and HERWIG and the next-to-leading order approximation of JETRAD are compared to the data for one, two, three, and four jet inclusive production. Transverse energy spectra and multiple jet angular and summed transverse-energy distributions are adequately described by the shower approximation while next-to-leading order calculations describe the data poorly.

Search for the Scalar Top Quark inpp¯Collisions ats=1.8TeV

We have performed a search for scalar top quark (stop) pair production in the inclusive electron-muon-missing transverse energy final state, using a sample of p (p) over bar events corresponding to 108.3 pb (-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at Fermilab. The search is done in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model assuming that the sneutrino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. For the dominant decays of the lightest stop, (t) over tilde-->b (χ) over tilde (+)(1) and (t) over tilde-->bl (ν) over tilde , no evidence for signal is found. We derive cross-section limits as a function of stop ((t) over tilde), chargino ((χ) over tilde (+)(1)), and sneutrino ((ν) …

Characterization of a medium size Xe/TMA TPC instrumented with microbulk Micromegas, using low-energy gamma-rays

NEXT-MM is a general-purpose high pressure (10 bar, $\sim25$ l active volume) Xenon-based TPC, read out in charge mode with an 8 cm $\times$8 cm-segmented 700 cm$^2$ plane (1152 ch) of the latest microbulk-Micromegas technology. It has been recently commissioned at University of Zaragoza as part of the R&D of the NEXT $0\nu\beta\beta$ experiment, although the experiment's first stage is currently being built based on a SiPM/PMT-readout concept relying on electroluminescence. Around 2 million events were collected during the last months, stemming from the low energy $\gamma$-rays emitted by a $^{241}$Am source when interacting with the Xenon gas ($\epsilon$ = 26, 30, 59.5 keV). The localized…

Search for R-parity violating supersymmetry in two-muon and four-jet topologies

We present results of a search for R-parity-violating decay of the neutralino chi;01, taken as the lightest supersymmetric particle, to a muon and two jets. The decay proceeds through a lepton-number violating coupling lambda(')(2jk) (j=1,2; k=1,2,3), with R-parity conservation in all other production and decay processes. In the absence of candidate events from 77.5+/-3.9 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV, and with an expected background of 0.18+/-0.03+/-0.02 events, we set limits on squark and gluino masses within the framework of the minimal low-energy supergravity-supersymmetry model.

Present Status and Future Perspectives of the NEXT Experiment

Gómez Cadenas, Juan José et al.

Search for Large Extra Dimensions in theMonojet+E̸TChannel with the DØ Detector

We present a search for large extra dimensions (ED) in p (p) over bar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV using data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron in 1994-1996. Data corresponding to 78.8+/-3.9 pb(-1) are examined for events with large missing transverse energy, one high-p(T) jet, and no isolated muons. There is no excess observed beyond expectation from the standard model, and we place lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale of 1.0 and 0.6 TeV for 2 and 7 ED, respectively.

Improved W boson mass measurement with the DO detector

We have measured the W boson mass using the DO detector and a data sample of 82 pb(-1) from the Fermilab Tevatron collider. This measurement uses W-->enu decays, where the electron is close to a boundary of a central electromagnetic calorimeter module. Such "edge" electrons have not been used in any previous DO analysis, and represent a 14% increase in the W boson sample size. For these electrons, new response and resolution parameters are determined, and revised backgrounds and underlying event energy flow measurements are made. When the current measurement is combined with previous DO W boson mass measurements, we obtain M-W=80.483+/-0.084 GeV. The 8% improvement from the previous DO meas…

Subjet multiplicity of gluon and quark jets reconstructed with thek⊥algorithm inpp¯collisions

The D empty set Collaboration has studied for the first time the properties of hadron-collider jets reconstructed with a successive-combination algorithm based on relative transverse momenta (k(perpendicular to)) of energy clusters. Using the standard value D = 1.0 of the jet-separation parameter in the k(perpendicular to) algorithm, we find that the p(T) of such jets is higher than the E-T of matched jets reconstructed with cones of radius R = 0.7, by about 5 (8) GeV at p(T) approximate to90 (240) GeV. To examine internal jet structure, the k(perpendicular to) algorithm is applied within D = 0.5 jets to resolve any subjets. The multiplicity of subjets in jet samples at roots = 1800 GeV and…

Radiopurity control in the NEXT-100 double beta decay experiment: procedures and initial measurements

[EN] The "Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon Time-Projection Chamber" (NEXT) is intended to investigate the neutrinoless double beta decay of Xe-136, which requires a severe suppression of potential backgrounds. An extensive screening and material selection process is underway for NEXT since the control of the radiopurity levels of the materials to be used in the experimental set-up is a must for rare event searches. First measurements based on Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry and gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (Spain) are described here. Activity results for natural radioactive chains and other common radionucl…

Search for Heavy Particles Decaying into Electron-Positron Pairs inpp¯Collisions

We present results of searches for technirho (rho (T)), techniomega (omega (T)), and Z' particles, using the decay channels rho (T), omega (T), Z' --> e(+)e(-). The search is based on 124.8 pb(-1) of data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron during 1992-1996. In the absence of a signal, we set 95% C.L. upper limits on the cross sections for the processes p (p) over bar --> rho (T), omega (T), Z' - e(+)e(-) as a function of the mass of the decaying particle. For certain model parameters, we exclude the existence of degenerate rho (T) and omega (T) states with masses below about 200 GeV. We exclude a Z' with mass below 670 GeV, assuming that it has the same couplings to fermi…

Calibration of the NEXT-White detector using $^{83m}\mathrm{Kr}$ decays

The NEXT-White (NEW) detector is currently the largest radio-pure high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber with electroluminescent readout in the world. NEXT-White has been operating at Laboratorio Subterr\'aneo de Canfranc (LSC) since October 2016. This paper describes the calibrations performed with $^{83m}\mathrm{Kr}$ decays during a long run taken from March to November 2017 (Run II). Krypton calibrations are used to correct for the finite drift-electron lifetime as well as for the dependence of the measured energy on the event position which is mainly caused by variations in solid angle coverage. After producing calibration maps to correct for both effects we measure an excellen…

Search for minimal supergravity in single-electron events with jets and large missing transverse energy inpp¯collisions ats=1.8TeV

We describe a search for evidence of minimal supergravity (MSUGRA) in 92.7 pb(-1) of data collected with the D empty set detector at the Fermilab Tevatron p (p) over bar collider at roots=1.8 TeV. Events with a single electron, four or more jets, and large missing transverse energy were used in this search. The major backgrounds are from W+jets, misidentified multijet, t (t) over bar, and WW production. We observe no excess above the expected number of background events in our data. A new limit in terms of MSUGRA model parameters is obtained.