Ba-ion extraction from a high pressure Xe gas for double-beta decay studies with EXO

TL;DR

This paper describes the development of an experimental system to extract Ba ions from high-pressure Xe gas for use in double-beta decay detection, aiming for background-free measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel technique combining a converging-diverging nozzle and RF funnel to extract Ba ions from high-pressure Xe for the first time.

Findings

Design of a Ba-ion extraction setup from high-pressure Xe

Potential for background-free double-beta decay detection

Advancement towards a Ba-ion tagging method in Xe detectors

Abstract

An experimental setup is being developed to extract Ba ions from a high-pressure Xe gas environment. It aims to transport Ba ions from 10 bar Xe to vacuum conditions. The setup utilizes a converging-diverging nozzle in combination with a radio-frequency (RF) funnel to move Ba ions into vacuum through the pressure drop of several orders of magnitude. This technique is intended to be used in a future multi-ton detector investigating double-beta decay in $^{136}$Xe. Efficient extraction and detection of Ba ions, the decay product of Xe, would allow for a background-free measurement of the $^{136}$Xe double-beta decay.