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Register a new userCosmogenic Backgrounds to 0{ u}{beta}{beta} in EXO-200
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As neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments become more sensitive and intrinsic radioactivity in detector materials is reduced, previously minor contributions to the background must be understood and eliminated. With this in mind, cosmogenic backgrounds have been studied with the EXO-200 experiment. Using the EXO-200 TPC, the muon flux (through a flat horizontal surface) underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) has been measured to be {Phi} = 4.07 $pm$ 0.14 (sys) $pm$ 0.03 (stat) $times$ $10^{-7}$cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, with a vertical intensity of $I_{v}$ = 2.97$^{+0.14}_{-0.13}$ (sys) $pm$ 0.02 (stat) $times$ $10^{-7}$cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ sr$^{-1}$. Simulations of muon-induced backgrounds identified several potential cosmogenic radionuclides, though only 137Xe is a significant background for the 136Xe 0{ u}{beta}{beta} search with EXO-200. Muon-induced neutron backgrounds were measured using {gamma}-rays from neutron capture on the detector materials. This provided a measurement of 137Xe yield, and a test of the accuracy of the neutron production and transport simulations. The independently measured rates of 136Xe neutron capture and of 137Xe decay agree within uncertainties. Geant4 and FLUKA simulations were performed to estimate neutron capture rates, and these estimates agreed to within ~40% or better with measurements. The ability to identify 136Xe(n,{gamma}) events will allow for rejection of 137Xe backgrounds in future 0{ u}{beta}{beta} analyses.
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We report on an improved measurement of the 2 u beta beta half-life of Xe-136 performed by EXO-200. The use of a large and homogeneous time projection chamber allows for the precise estimate of the fiducial mass used for the measurement, resulting in a small systematic uncertainty. We also discuss in detail the data analysis methods used for double-beta decay searches with EXO-200, while emphasizing those directly related to the present measurement. The Xe-136 2 u beta beta half-life is found to be 2.165 +- 0.016 (stat) +- 0.059 (sys) x 10^21 years. This is the most precisely measured half-life of any 2 u beta beta decay to date.
We report the observation of two-neutrino double-beta decay in Xe-136 with T_1/2 = 2.11 +- 0.04 (stat.) +- 0.21 (sys.) x 10^21 yr. This second order process, predicted by the Standard Model, has been observed for several nuclei but not for Xe-136. The observed decay rate provides new input to matrix element calculations and to the search for the more interesting neutrino-less double-beta decay, the most sensitive probe for the existence of Majorana particles and the measurement of the neutrino mass scale.
Here we present the first results of WATCHBOY, a water Cherenkov detector designed to measure the yield of $beta$-neutron emitting radionuclides produced by cosmic ray muons in water. In addition to the $beta$-neutron measurement, we also provide a first look at isolating single-$beta$ producing radionuclides following muon-induced hadronic showers as a check of the detection capabilities of WATCHBOY. The data taken over $207$ live days indicates a $^{9}$Li production yield upper limit of $1.9times10^{-7}mu^{-1}g^{-1}mathrm{cm}^2$ at $sim400$ meters water equivalent (m.w.e.) overburden at the $90%$ confidence level. In this work the $^{9}$Li signal in WATCHBOY was used as a proxy for the combined search for $^{9}$Li and $^{8}$He production. This result will provide a constraint on estimates of antineutrino-like backgrounds in future water-based antineutrino detectors.
EXO-200 is a single phase liquid xenon detector designed to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{136}$Xe. Here we report on a search for various Majoron-emitting modes based on 100 kg$cdot$yr exposure of $^{136}$Xe. A lower limit of $T^{^{136}Xe}_{1/2} >1.2 cdot 10^{24}$ yr at 90% C.L. on the half-life of the spectral index = 1 Majoron decay was obtained, corresponding to a constraint on the Majoron-neutrino coupling constant of $|< g^{M}_{ee} >|<$ (0.8-1.7)$cdot$10$^{-5}$.
We report the results of a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in a 9.8~kg$cdot$yr exposure of $^{130}$Te using a bolometric detector array, CUORE-0. The characteristic detector energy resolution and background level in the region of interest are $5.1pm 0.3{rm~keV}$ FWHM and $0.058 pm 0.004,(mathrm{stat.})pm 0.002,(mathrm{syst.})$~counts/(keV$cdot$kg$cdot$yr), respectively. The median 90%~C.L. lower-limit sensitivity of the experiment is $2.9times 10^{24}~{rm yr}$ and surpasses the sensitivity of previous searches. We find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{130}$Te and place a Bayesian lower bound on the decay half-life, $T^{0 u}_{1/2}>$~$ 2.7times 10^{24}~{rm yr}$ at 90%~C.L. Combining CUORE-0 data with the 19.75~kg$cdot$yr exposure of $^{130}$Te from the Cuoricino experiment we obtain $T^{0 u}_{1/2} > 4.0times 10^{24}~mathrm{yr}$ at 90%~C.L.~(Bayesian), the most stringent limit to date on this half-life. Using a range of nuclear matrix element estimates we interpret this as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, $m_{betabeta}< 270$ -- $760~mathrm{meV}$.
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