Measurement of proton and alpha-particle quenching in LAB based scintillators and determination of spectral sensitivities to supernova neutrinos in the SNO+ detector

SNO+, the successor of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, is an upcoming low energy neutrino experiment, located in the 2 km deep laboratory SNOLAB, Canada. The spheric acrylic vessel in the detector center will contain 780 t of LAB. The main goal of SNO+ is the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te, using a novel scintillator in which natural Te is bound with an initial loading of 0.3% via water and a surfactant. Within this thesis, the first measurement of the Alpha-particle and proton quenching parameters of loaded and unloaded LAB is described. These parameters are crucial for an efficient background suppression, necessary to reach a sensitivity above the current limit in 76Ge of T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.). For 0.3% Te-loading, the quenching parameter obtained is kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV for Alpha-particles and kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV for protons. Additionally, the spectral sensitivity of SNO+ to supernova electron anti-neutrinos and muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is determined for the first time, using inverse beta decay and v-p elastic scattering with the measured quenching parameters. The obtained sensitivity to the mean energy of electron anti-neutrinos is E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV and of muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV.SNO+, der Nachfolger des Sudbury Neutrino Observatorys, ist ein bevorstehendes Niederenergie-Neutrino-Experiment im 2 km tiefen Untergrundlabor SNOLAB in Kanada. Die Acryl-Kugel im Zentrum des Detektors wird mit 780 t LAB gefüllt werden. Das Hauptziel von SNO+ ist die Suche nach dem neutrinolosen Doppelbetazerfall von 130Te mit einem neuartigen Szintillator, in dem natürliches Te mit einer Anfangskonzentration von 0.3% über Wasser und ein Tensid gebunden wird. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmals die Messung der Alpha-Teilchen und Proton Quenching Parameter in diesem und in normalem LAB beschrieben. Die Parameter sind unverzichtbar für eine effiziente Untergrund Unterdrückung, die notwendig ist um auf das bestehende Limit in 76Ge von T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.) sensitiv zu sein. Der ermittelte Quenching Parameter bei 0.3% Te beträgt kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV für Alpha-Teilchen und kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV für Protonen. Zusätzlich wird erstmals die spektrale Sensitivität von SNO+ auf Supernova Elektron Anti-Neutrinos und Muon and Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos bestimmt über den inversen Betazerfall und die elastische v-p Streuung zusammen mit den gemessenen Quenching Parametern. Die ermittelte Sensitivität auf die mittlere Energie der Elektron Anti-Neutrinos ist E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV und der Muon und Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos ist E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV

Impact of Dark Compton Scattering on Direct Dark Matter Absorption Searches

Direct detection experiments are gaining in mass reach. Here we show that the inclusion of dark Compton scattering, which has typically been neglected in absorption searches, has a substantial impact on the reach and discovery potential of direct detection experiments at high bosonic cold dark matter masses. We demonstrate this for relic dark photons and axionlike particles: we improve expected reach across materials, and further use results from SuperCDMS, EDELWEISS, and GERDA to place enhanced limits on dark matter parameter space. We outline the implications for detector design and analysis

DELight: a Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter with superfluid helium

To reach ultra-low detection thresholds necessary to probe unprecedentedly low Dark Matter masses, target material alternatives and novel detector designs are essential. One such target material is superfluid $^4$He which has the potential to probe so far uncharted light Dark Matter parameter space at sub-GeV masses. The new ``Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter'', DELight, will be using superfluid helium as active target, instrumented with magnetic micro-calorimeters. It is being designed to reach sensitivity to masses well below 100\,MeV in Dark Matter-nucleus scattering interactions.Comment: IDM2022 proceedings submitted to SciPos

Dark sectors 2016 Workshop: community report

This report, based on the Dark Sectors workshop at SLAC in April 2016, summarizes the scientific importance of searches for dark sector dark matter and forces at masses beneath the weak-scale, the status of this broad international field, the important milestones motivating future exploration, and promising experimental opportunities to reach these milestones over the next 5-10 years

Applications and Techniques for Fast Machine Learning in Science

In this community review report, we discuss applications and techniques for fast machine learning (ML) in science - the concept of integrating powerful ML methods into the real-time experimental data processing loop to accelerate scientific discovery. The material for the report builds on two workshops held by the Fast ML for Science community and covers three main areas: applications for fast ML across a number of scientific domains; techniques for training and implementing performant and resource-efficient ML algorithms; and computing architectures, platforms, and technologies for deploying these algorithms. We also present overlapping challenges across the multiple scientific domains where common solutions can be found. This community report is intended to give plenty of examples and inspiration for scientific discovery through integrated and accelerated ML solutions. This is followed by a high-level overview and organization of technical advances, including an abundance of pointers to source material, which can enable these breakthroughs

Measurement of proton and alpha-particle quenching in LAB based scintillators and determination of spectral sensitivities to supernova neutrinos in the SNO+ detector

SNO+, the successor of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, is an upcoming low energy neutrino experiment, located in the 2 km deep laboratory SNOLAB, Canada. The spheric acrylic vessel in the detector center will contain 780 t of LAB. The main goal of SNO+ is the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te, using a novel scintillator in which natural Te is bound with an initial loading of 0.3% via water and a surfactant. Within this thesis, the first measurement of the Alpha-particle and proton quenching parameters of loaded and unloaded LAB is described. These parameters are crucial for an efficient background suppression, necessary to reach a sensitivity above the current limit in 76Ge of T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.). For 0.3% Te-loading, the quenching parameter obtained is kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV for Alpha-particles and kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV for protons. Additionally, the spectral sensitivity of SNO+ to supernova electron anti-neutrinos and muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is determined for the first time, using inverse beta decay and v-p elastic scattering with the measured quenching parameters. The obtained sensitivity to the mean energy of electron anti-neutrinos is E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV and of muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV.SNO+, der Nachfolger des Sudbury Neutrino Observatorys, ist ein bevorstehendes Niederenergie-Neutrino-Experiment im 2 km tiefen Untergrundlabor SNOLAB in Kanada. Die Acryl-Kugel im Zentrum des Detektors wird mit 780 t LAB gefüllt werden. Das Hauptziel von SNO+ ist die Suche nach dem neutrinolosen Doppelbetazerfall von 130Te mit einem neuartigen Szintillator, in dem natürliches Te mit einer Anfangskonzentration von 0.3% über Wasser und ein Tensid gebunden wird. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmals die Messung der Alpha-Teilchen und Proton Quenching Parameter in diesem und in normalem LAB beschrieben. Die Parameter sind unverzichtbar für eine effiziente Untergrund Unterdrückung, die notwendig ist um auf das bestehende Limit in 76Ge von T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.) sensitiv zu sein. Der ermittelte Quenching Parameter bei 0.3% Te beträgt kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV für Alpha-Teilchen und kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV für Protonen. Zusätzlich wird erstmals die spektrale Sensitivität von SNO+ auf Supernova Elektron Anti-Neutrinos und Muon and Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos bestimmt über den inversen Betazerfall und die elastische v-p Streuung zusammen mit den gemessenen Quenching Parametern. Die ermittelte Sensitivität auf die mittlere Energie der Elektron Anti-Neutrinos ist E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV und der Muon und Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos ist E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV

Measurement of proton and alpha-particle quenching in LAB based scintillators and determination of spectral sensitivities to supernova neutrinos in the SNO+ detector

SNO+, the successor of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, is an upcoming low energy neutrino experiment, located in the 2 km deep laboratory SNOLAB, Canada. The spheric acrylic vessel in the detector center will contain 780 t of LAB. The main goal of SNO+ is the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te, using a novel scintillator in which natural Te is bound with an initial loading of 0.3% via water and a surfactant. Within this thesis, the first measurement of the Alpha-particle and proton quenching parameters of loaded and unloaded LAB is described. These parameters are crucial for an efficient background suppression, necessary to reach a sensitivity above the current limit in 76Ge of T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.). For 0.3% Te-loading, the quenching parameter obtained is kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV for Alpha-particles and kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV for protons. Additionally, the spectral sensitivity of SNO+ to supernova electron anti-neutrinos and muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is determined for the first time, using inverse beta decay and v-p elastic scattering with the measured quenching parameters. The obtained sensitivity to the mean energy of electron anti-neutrinos is E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV and of muon and tau (anti-)neutrinos is E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV.SNO+, der Nachfolger des Sudbury Neutrino Observatorys, ist ein bevorstehendes Niederenergie-Neutrino-Experiment im 2 km tiefen Untergrundlabor SNOLAB in Kanada. Die Acryl-Kugel im Zentrum des Detektors wird mit 780 t LAB gefüllt werden. Das Hauptziel von SNO+ ist die Suche nach dem neutrinolosen Doppelbetazerfall von 130Te mit einem neuartigen Szintillator, in dem natürliches Te mit einer Anfangskonzentration von 0.3% über Wasser und ein Tensid gebunden wird. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmals die Messung der Alpha-Teilchen und Proton Quenching Parameter in diesem und in normalem LAB beschrieben. Die Parameter sind unverzichtbar für eine effiziente Untergrund Unterdrückung, die notwendig ist um auf das bestehende Limit in 76Ge von T1/2(0v) > 2.1 x 10^(25) y (90% C.L.) sensitiv zu sein. Der ermittelte Quenching Parameter bei 0.3% Te beträgt kB = (0.0070 +/- 0.0004) cm/MeV für Alpha-Teilchen und kB = (0.0090 +/- 0.0003) cm/MeV für Protonen. Zusätzlich wird erstmals die spektrale Sensitivität von SNO+ auf Supernova Elektron Anti-Neutrinos und Muon and Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos bestimmt über den inversen Betazerfall und die elastische v-p Streuung zusammen mit den gemessenen Quenching Parametern. Die ermittelte Sensitivität auf die mittlere Energie der Elektron Anti-Neutrinos ist E = 15.47^(+1.54)_(-2.43) MeV und der Muon und Tau (Anti-)Neutrinos ist E = 17.81^(+3.49)_(-3.09) MeV

Energetic neutron identification with pulse shape discrimination in pure CsI crystals

Pulse shape discrimination with pure CsI scintillators is investigated as a method for separating energy deposits by energetic neutrons and photons at particle physics experiments. Using neutron data collected near the European XFEL XS1 beam window the pulse shape discrimination capabilities of pure CsI are studied and compared to CsI(Tl) using near-identical detector setups, which were operated in parallel. The inelastic interactions of 100MeV neutrons are observed to produce a slower scintillation emission in pure CsI relative to energy deposits from cosmic muons. By employing a charge-ratio method for pulse shape characterization, pulse shape discrimination with pure CsI is shown to be effective for identifying energy deposits from neutrons vs. cosmic muons, however, pure CsI was not able resolve the specific type of neutron inelastic interactions as can be done with CsI(Tl). Using pulse shape discrimination, the rate of energetic neutron interactions in a pure CsI detector is measured as a function of time and shown to be correlated with the European XFEL beam power. The results demonstrate that pulse shape discrimination with pure CsI has significant potential to improve electromagnetic vs. hadronic shower identification at future particle physics experiments