1. Simulation studies on backgrounds in nEXO from radon-daughter plate-out.
- Author
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Veeraraghavan, Venkatesh, Tsang, Raymond Hei-Man, and Piepke, Andreas
- Subjects
NEUTRINOLESS double beta decay ,RADIOACTIVE decay ,RADON ,BETA decay ,ALPHA rays ,FAST neutrons ,NEUTRONS - Abstract
nEXO is a proposed search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0vββ) of
136 Xe. The experiment is planning to utilize isotopically enriched xenon both as source and detection medium. Radon daughters produced by radon decays in the air can plate out on material surfaces during detector assembly and handling. The alpha particles they emit can interact with low-Z materials nearby and produce fast neutrons. These neutrons can in turn produce137 Xe when captured by136 Xe contained in the nEXO detector medium. The subsequent beta decay of137 Xe (Q = 4173 keV) can mimic 0vββ in nEXO. This paper describes simulation studies performed to estimate the background in nEXO produced by radon daughters. We will also discuss the allowed amounts of radon daughters on material surfaces in order to meet nEXO's stringent background requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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