Large Low Background kTon-Scale Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of large, low-background liquid argon detectors to enhance sensitivity to low-energy physics phenomena like neutrinos, double beta decay, and dark matter, through design improvements and radiopurity controls.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of augmenting existing DUNE-like detectors for low-energy physics searches, including supernova neutrinos, double beta decay, and dark matter detection.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity to supernova and solar neutrinos.

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

Competitive dark matter detection capabilities with seasonal variation signatures.

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 targeted 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.