Cosmogenic background simulations for neutrinoless double beta decay with the DARWIN observatory at various underground sites

Xenon dual-phase time projections chambers (TPCs) have proven to be a successful technology in studying physical phenomena that require low-background conditions. With 40t of liquid xenon (LXe) in the TPC baseline design, DARWIN will have a high sensitivity for the detection of particle dark matter, neutrinoless double beta decay (0 ν β β), and axion-like particles (ALPs). Although cosmic muons are a source of background that cannot be entirely eliminated, they may be greatly diminished by placing the detector deep underground. In this study, we used Monte Carlo simulations to model the cosmogenic background expected for the DARWIN observatory at four underground laboratories: Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) and SNOLAB. We present here the results of simulations performed to determine the production rate of 137 Xe, the most crucial isotope in the search for 0 ν β β of 136 Xe. Additionally, we explore the contribution that other muon-induced spallation products, such as other unstable xenon isotopes and tritium, may have on the cosmogenic background

Cosmogenic background simulations for the DARWIN observatory at different underground locations

Xenon dual-phase time projections chambers (TPCs) have proven to be a successful technology in studying physical phenomena that require low-background conditions. With 40t of liquid xenon (LXe) in the TPC baseline design, DARWIN will have a high sensitivity for the detection of particle dark matter, neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$), and axion-like particles (ALPs). Although cosmic muons are a source of background that cannot be entirely eliminated, they may be greatly diminished by placing the detector deep underground. In this study, we used Monte Carlo simulations to model the cosmogenic background expected for the DARWIN observatory at four underground laboratories: Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) and SNOLAB. We determine the production rates of unstable xenon isotopes and tritium due to muon-included neutron fluxes and muon-induced spallation. These are expected to represent the dominant contributions to cosmogenic backgrounds and thus the most relevant for site selection

A Next-Generation Liquid Xenon Observatory for Dark Matter and Neutrino Physics

The nature of dark matter and properties of neutrinos are among the mostpressing issues in contemporary particle physics. The dual-phase xenontime-projection chamber is the leading technology to cover the availableparameter space for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), whilefeaturing extensive sensitivity to many alternative dark matter candidates.These detectors can also study neutrinos through neutrinoless double-beta decayand through a variety of astrophysical sources. A next-generation xenon-baseddetector will therefore be a true multi-purpose observatory to significantlyadvance particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, solar physics, andcosmology. This review article presents the science cases for such a detector.<br

A next-generation liquid xenon observatory for dark matter and neutrino physics

The nature of dark matter and properties of neutrinos are among the most pressing issues in contemporary particle physics. The dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber is the leading technology to cover the available parameter space for weakly interacting massive particles, while featuring extensive sensitivity to many alternative dark matter candidates. These detectors can also study neutrinos through neutrinoless double-beta decay and through a variety of astrophysical sources. A next-generation xenon-based detector will therefore be a true multi-purpose observatory to significantly advance particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, solar physics, and cosmology. This review article presents the science cases for such a detector

Effect of the C(3)-Substituent in Verdazyl Radicals on their Profluorescent Behavior

Methods for the detection of reactive intermediates such as transient radicals are important in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, biology or medicine. Along these lines we recently reported that 1,5-diphenyl-6-oxo verdazyl radicals can be used as fluorescent spin sensors. In situ generated C-centered radicals are efficiently trapped by the verdazyls, which in turn undergo transformation from a paramagnetic non-fluorescent state to a diamagnetic fluorescent state. Whereas the N-phenyl substituent in the spin probes is of high importance for obtaining profluorescent behavior, the effect of the C(3)-substituent has not been investigated to date. We herein present the synthesis and characterization of various 1,5-diphenyl-6-oxo-verdazyl radicals bearing differently hybridized C-substituents at the C(3) position. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state along with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations reveal that a C(3)-aryl substituent is crucial for obtaining fluorescence after spin trapping. In addition, it is shown that the emission wavelength of the C(3)-aryl substituted verdazyl derivatives can be tuned by selective destabilization of the HOMO and the LUMO

Preparation, Structural Characterization, and Electrical Conductivity of Highly Ion-Conducting Glasses and Glass Ceramics in the System Li_1+<i>x</i>Al_<i>x</i>Sn_<i>y</i>Ge_2‑(x+y)(PO₄)₃

Highly ion conducting glass-ceramics, crystallizing in the Na-superionic conducting (NASICON) structure, have been prepared in the system Li_1+<i>x</i>Al_<i>x</i>Sn_<i>y</i>Ge_{2‑(<i>x</i>+<i>y</i>)}(PO₄)₃ by crystallization of glassy precursor samples. For modest substitution levels (<i>y</i> = 0.25), these crystalline solid solutions show slightly higher electrical conductivity than corresponding samples without Sn, supporting the rationale that the lattice expansion associated with the substitution of Ge by its larger homologue Sn can enhance ionic conductivity. Higher Sn substitution levels (<i>y</i> = 0.45) do not result in any improvement. The glass-to-crystal transition has been characterized in detail by multinuclear single and double resonance NMR experiments. While substantial changes in the ³¹P and ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectra indicate that the crystallization of the glasses is accompanied by significant modifications in the local environments of the phosphate and the aluminum species, the dipolar solid state NMR experiments indicate that the structures of both phases are dominated by Ge–O–P, Sn–O–P, and Al–O–P connectivities. Substitution of Ge by Al and Sn in the crystalline NASICON structure results in a binomial distribution of multiple phosphate environments, which differ in the number of P–O–Ge, P–O–Al, and P–O–Sn linkages. While there is no chemical shift discrimination between P–O–Al and P–O–Sn linkages, an unambiguous distinction is possible on the basis of ³¹P­{²⁷Al} rotational echo adiabatic passage double resonance (REAPDOR) experiments