Background reduction in $^{136}$Xe double beta decay experiments through direct barium ion detection

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel barium ion detection method for $^{136}$Xe double beta decay experiments, aiming to significantly reduce background noise and improve sensitivity in neutrino physics research.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new detection scheme based solely on barium ion energy levels, simplifying setup and enhancing experimental sensitivity.

Findings

Potential for near-background-free detection environment

Elimination of additives in xenon vessel

Enhanced sensitivity for neutrino physics experiments

Abstract

Tagging barium ions in double beta decay experiments involving $^{136}$Xe offers a promising pathway to achieving an almost background-free environment, which is essential for addressing key unresolved questions in neutrino physics, such as the nature of neutrinos and their mass hierarchy. In this manuscript, we present a novel detection scheme that relies exclusively on the intrinsic energy levels of the barium ion. This method eliminates the need for additional additives in the xenon vessel, thereby simplifying the experimental setup and enhancing the potential sensitivity of the experiment.