Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/10316/105039
Title: | Sensitivity of the NEXT experiment to Xe-124 double electron capture | Authors: | Fernandes, A. F. M. Fernandes, L. M. P. Henriques, C. A. O. Freitas, E. D. C. Mano, R.D.P. Monteiro, C. M. B. Santos, J. M. F. dos Santos, F. P. Borges, F. I. G. M. Conde, C. A. N. Escada, J. NEXT Collaboration |
Keywords: | Dark Matter and Double Beta Decay (experiments) | Issue Date: | Feb-2021 | Publisher: | Springer Nature | Serial title, monograph or event: | Journal of High Energy Physics | Volume: | 2021 | Issue: | 2 | Abstract: | Double electron capture by proton-rich nuclei is a second-order nuclear process analogous to double beta decay. Despite their similarities, the decay signature is quite different, potentially providing a new channel to measure the hypothesized neutrinoless mode of these decays. The Standard-Model-allowed two-neutrino double electron capture (2 ECEC) has been predicted for a number of isotopes, but only observed in 78Kr, 130Ba and, recently, 124Xe. The sensitivity to this decay establishes a benchmark for the ultimate experimental goal, namely the potential to discover also the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless version of this process, 0 ECEC. Here we report on the current sensitivity of the NEXT-White detector to 124Xe 2 ECEC and on the extrapolation to NEXT-100. Using simulated data for the 2 ECEC signal and real data from NEXT-White operated with 124Xe-depleted gas as background, we define an optimal event selection that maximizes the NEXT-White sensitivity. We estimate that, for NEXT-100 operated with xenon gas isotopically enriched with 1 kg of 124Xe and for a 5-year run, a sensitivity to the 2 ECEC half-life of 6 × 1022 y (at 90% confidence level) or better can be reached. | URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/10316/105039 | Rights: | openAccess |
Appears in Collections: | LIBPhys - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais LIP - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sensitivity-of-the-NEXT-experiment-to-Xe124-double-electron-captureJournal-of-High-Energy-Physics.pdf | 977.64 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Google ScholarTM
Check
This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License