Low Background kTon-Scale Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

TL;DR

This paper explores how low-background, large-scale liquid argon detectors can enhance sensitivity to various low-energy physics phenomena, including neutrinos, dark matter, and double beta decay, through improved radiopurity and design modifications.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of increasing sensitivity in large liquid argon detectors for multiple low-energy physics searches by optimizing radiopurity and detector design.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity to supernova and solar neutrinos.

Feasibility of neutrinoless double beta decay search with $^{136}$Xe loading.

Competitive WIMP dark matter detection with seasonal variation signals.

Abstract

We find that it is possible to increase sensitivity to low energy physics in a third or fourth DUNE-like module with careful controls over radiopurity and some modifications to a detector similar to the DUNE Far Detector design. In particular, sensitivity to supernova and solar neutrinos can be enhanced with improved MeV-scale reach. A neutrinoless double beta decay search with $^{136}$Xe loading appears feasible. Furthermore, sensitivity to Weakly-Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) Dark Matter (DM) becomes competitive with the planned world program in such a detector, offering a unique seasonal variation detection that is characteristic for the nature of WIMPs.