XAX: a multi-ton, multi-target detection system for dark matter, double beta decay and pp solar neutrinos

TL;DR

The paper proposes XAX, a multi-target liquid xenon and argon TPC detector with ultra-low background for dark matter detection, neutrinoless double beta decay, and solar neutrino measurement, achieving high sensitivity and background suppression.

Contribution

Introduction of the XAX multi-target detection system with advanced photon detection and background reduction for multiple rare event searches.

Findings

Background levels suitable for WIMP detection at 10^-10 pb cross section.

Potential to observe neutrinoless double beta decay with lifetimes up to 10^28 years.

Ability to measure pp solar neutrino spectrum with 1-2% precision.

Abstract

A multi-target detection system XAX, comprising concentric 10 ton targets of 136Xe and 129/131Xe, together with a geometrically similar or larger target of liquid Ar, is described. Each is configured as a two-phase scintillation/ionization TPC detector, enhanced by a full 4pi array of ultra-low radioactivity Quartz Photon Intensifying Detectors (QUPIDs) replacing the conventional photomultipliers for detection of scintillation light. It is shown that background levels in XAX can be reduced to the level required for dark matter particle (WIMP) mass measurement at a 10^-10 pb WIMP-nucleon cross section, with single-event sensitivity below 10^-11 pb. The use of multiple target elements allows for confirmation of the A^2 dependence of a coherent cross section, and the different Xe isotopes provide information on the spin-dependence of the dark matter interaction. The event rates observed by Xe and Ar would modulate annually with opposite phases from each other for WIMP mass >~100 GeV/c^2. The large target mass of 136Xe and high degree of background reduction allow neutrinoless double beta decay to be observed with lifetimes of 10^27-10^28 years, corresponding to the Majorana neutrino mass range 0.01-0.1 eV, the most likely range from observed neutrino mass differences. The use of a 136Xe-depleted 129/131Xe target will also allow measurement of the pp solar neutrino spectrum to a precision of 1-2%.