Liquid Xenon detector R&D for $0\nu2\beta$ search (KamXP)

TL;DR

This paper reports on R&D efforts to develop a liquid xenon detector with innovative design features and background reduction techniques to enhance the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay, aiming for improved sensitivity.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel LXe detector concept using a plastic scintillator vessel and wavelength shifting, along with new background reduction methods, for $0 u2eta$ searches.

Findings

Development of a LXe detector with shifted scintillation light detection.

Implementation of pulse shape discrimination for background reduction.

Potential use of Cherenkov light directionality to reduce solar neutrino background.

Abstract

The R&D for a new type of liquid xenon (LXe) detector is ongoing to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu2\beta$). As a result of the KamLAND-Zen experiment, it is very important to realize the all active region detector for the energy deposition of the radiation. Newly developed additional BG reduction techniques will improve the sensitivity of $0\nu2\beta$ search in the future. Our detector concept is LXe stored in a new type of plastic scintillator vessel. The wavelength of LXe scintillation light is shifted to visible light from 175nm (VUV) on the inner surface of the vessel. Therefore, the LXe scintillation light can be detected by photon sensors which are far away from the $0\nu2\beta$ target nuclei. The pulse shape difference between LXe and plastic scintillator is used for the additional BG reduction. In the future, $^{8}$B solar neutrino events will be one of the dominant BGs in $0\nu2\beta$ search. To reduce the $^{8}$B solar neutrino BG, the directional information of the Cherenkov light might be useful. The status of LXe detector R&D to improve the sensitivity of $0\nu2\beta$ search is reported.