248 research outputs found
A comparison of the neutron detection efficiency and response characteristics of two pixelated PSD-capable organic scintillator detectors with different photo-detection readout methods
We characterize the performance of two pixelated neutron detectors: a
PMT-based array that utilizes Anger logic for pixel identification and a
SiPM-based array that employs individual pixel readout. The SiPM-based array
offers improved performance over the previously developed PMT-based detector
both in terms of uniformity and neutron detection efficiency. Each detector
array uses PSD-capable plastic scintillator as a detection medium. We describe
the calibration and neutron efficiency measurement of both detectors using a
Cs source for energy calibration and a Cf source for
calibration of the neutron response. We find that the intrinsic neutron
detection efficiency of the SiPM-based array is ()\%, which
is almost twice that of the PMT-based array, which we measure to be ()\%
Radiogenic and Muon-Induced Backgrounds in the LUX Dark Matter Detector
The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment aims to detect rare
low-energy interactions from Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The
radiogenic backgrounds in the LUX detector have been measured and compared with
Monte Carlo simulation. Measurements of LUX high-energy data have provided
direct constraints on all background sources contributing to the background
model. The expected background rate from the background model for the 85.3 day
WIMP search run is
~events~keV~kg~day
in a 118~kg fiducial volume. The observed background rate is
~events~keV~kg~day,
consistent with model projections. The expectation for the radiogenic
background in a subsequent one-year run is presented.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures / 17 images, submitted to Astropart. Phy
A Review of NEST Models, and Their Application to Improvement of Particle Identification in Liquid Xenon Experiments
Liquid xenon is a leader in rare-event physics searches. Accurate modeling of
charge and light production is key for simulating signals and backgrounds in
this medium. The signal- and background-production models in the Noble Element
Simulation Technique (NEST) are presented. NEST is a simulation toolkit based
on experimental data, fit using simple, empirical formulae for the average
charge and light yields and their variations. NEST also simulates the final
scintillation pulses and exhibits the correct energy resolution as a function
of the particle type, the energy, and the electric fields. After vetting of
NEST against raw data, with several specific examples pulled from XENON,
ZEPLIN, LUX/LZ, and PandaX, we interpolate and extrapolate its models to draw
new conclusions on the properties of future detectors (e.g., XLZD's), in terms
of the best possible discrimination of electron(ic) recoil backgrounds from a
potential nuclear recoil signal, especially WIMP dark matter. We discover that
the oft-quoted value of 99.5% discrimination is overly conservative,
demonstrating that another order of magnitude improvement (99.95%
discrimination) can be achieved with a high photon detection efficiency (g1 ~
15-20%) at reasonably achievable drift fields of 200-350 V/cm.Comment: 24 Pages, 6 Tables, 15 Figures, and 15 Equation
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Projected sensitivity of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment to the 0νββ decay of Xe 136
The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment will enable a neutrinoless double β decay search in parallel to the main science goal of discovering dark matter particle interactions. We report the expected LZ sensitivity to Xe136 neutrinoless double β decay, taking advantage of the significant (>600 kg) Xe136 mass contained within the active volume of LZ without isotopic enrichment. After 1000 live-days, the median exclusion sensitivity to the half-life of Xe136 is projected to be 1.06×1026 years (90% confidence level), similar to existing constraints. We also report the expected sensitivity of a possible subsequent dedicated exposure using 90% enrichment with Xe136 at 1.06×1027 years
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