Enriched Xenon Observatory for double beta decay

双贝塔衰变浓缩氙天文台

• 批准号: SAPPJ-2014-00025
• 负责人: Sinclair, David
• 金额: $ 21.86万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Project
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=589192
• 关键词: Enriched; Xenon; Observatory; double; beta

The Enriched Xenon Observatory (EXO) collaboration is engaged in a search for the neutrinoless double beta decay (0?ßß) of 136Xe. Observation of this decay would prove that neutrinos are their own anti-­-pariticle (Majorana), provide information on the scale and ordering of neutrino masses, and give the first evidence for lepton number non-­-conservation. EXO is currently operating an enriched xenon liquid-­-phase time projection chamber (EXO200) near Carlsbad, New Mexico. With data collected from this experiment, EXO made the first measurement of the regular double beta decay of 136Xe and has produced world-­-leading measurements in the search for the neutrinoless decay. Canadian groups have contributed significantly to these efforts providing both hardware and analysis expertise to the project. For example, Canadians have taken lead responsibility for elements of detector design and engineering, calibration systems, and analysis coordination. Prof. Jacques Farine (Laurentian) is currently chair of the EXO Scientific Board and Prof. David Sinclair (Carleton) is serving on the EXO Executive Committee. EXO200 will continue collecting data for at least 2 more years and expects to remain at the forefront of the search for the 0?ßß decay. To substantially improve sensitivity in the search for 0?ßß beyond EXO200, it will be necessary for EXO to scale up its detector technology and decrease the background levels. Based on the success of EXO200, the collaboration is pursuing development of a next-­-generation liquid-­-phase detector (nEXO). With the addition of the TRIUMF group to EXO, the Canadians are well-­-positioned to lead significant components in the development of the next phase of EXO. This work will include design of calibration systems, evaluation of UV sensitive photo-­-detectors, Monte Carlo simulation, detector engineering, and continued Barium tagging development. The SNOLAB ‘cryopit’ could provide an excellent home for this next phase of EXO, and the collaboration is pursuing concepts for nEXO with this in mind. While a liquid-­-phase detector might prove the best option for the next scale of EXO, there are distinct advantages that might be gained from a gas-­-phase detector. Hence the Canadian groups will continue to pursue detector R&D and, in particular, barium tagging for the gas-­-phase possibility.

浓缩氙天文台（EXO）合作正在寻找无中微子双β衰变（0？136.第136章 对这种衰变的观测将证明中微子是它们自己的反中微子粒子（Majorana），提供关于中微子质量的尺度和排序的信息，并给出轻子数不守恒的第一个证据。 EXO目前正在运行一个富氙液相时间投影室 （EXO 200）靠近新墨西哥州的卡尔斯巴德。利用从这个实验中收集的数据，EXO首次测量了136中微子的规则双β衰变，并在寻找无中微子衰变方面产生了世界领先的测量结果。 加拿大各团体为这些努力作出了重大贡献，为该项目提供了硬件和分析专门知识。例如，加拿大人在探测器设计和工程、校准系统和分析协调等方面承担了主要责任。Jacques Farine教授（Laurentian）现任EXO科学委员会主席，大卫辛克莱教授（卡尔顿）担任EXO执行委员会成员。EXO 200将继续收集至少两年的数据，并预计将保持在寻找0？腐烂 为了大大提高灵敏度在搜索0？如果超过EXO 200， EXO有必要扩大其探测器技术并降低本底水平。 基于EXO 200的成功，该合作正在寻求开发下一代液相检测器（nEXO）。随着TRIUMF集团加入EXO，加拿大人处于有利地位，将在EXO下一阶段的发展中领导重要的组成部分。这项工作将包括校准系统的设计，紫外敏感光电探测器的评估，蒙特 卡洛模拟，探测器工程，并继续钡标记的发展。 SNOLAB的“cryopit”可以为EXO的下一阶段提供一个很好的家，并且合作正在考虑nEXO的概念。 虽然液相检测器可能是下一个规模EXO的最佳选择， 从气相检测器中可以获得明显的优点。因此，加拿大的研究小组将继续进行探测器的研究与开发，特别是对气相的可能性进行钡标记。