Energy Resolution studies for NEXT

TL;DR

This paper presents simulation studies of electroluminescence in gas detectors for the NEXT experiment, demonstrating that excellent energy resolution can be achieved for neutrinoless double beta decay detection.

Contribution

It provides detailed calculations of electroluminescence properties and energy resolution in a gas TPC for the first time under specific conditions relevant to NEXT.

Findings

Achieves energy resolution below 0.4% FWHM at 2.458 MeV

Shows good energy resolution is possible even with low photon detection efficiency

Provides detailed simulation data for electroluminescence in xenon gas detectors

Abstract

This work aims to present the current state of simulations of electroluminescence (EL) produced in gas-based detectors with special interest for NEXT --- Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC. NEXT is a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment, thus needs outstanding energy resolution which can be achieved by using electroluminescence. The process of light production is reviewed and properties such as EL yield and associated fluctuations, excitation and electroluminescence efficiencies, and energy resolution, are calculated. An EL production region with a 5 mm width gap between two infinite parallel planes is considered, where a uniform electric field is produced. The pressure and temperature considered are 10 bar and 293 K, respectively. The results show that, even for low values of VUV photon detection efficiency, good energy resolution can be achieved: below 0.4 % (FWHM) at $Q_{\beta\beta}=$2.458 MeV.