The NEXT-100 Detector

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract The NEXT collaboration is dedicated to the study of double beta decays of $$^{136}$$ 136 Xe using a high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chamber. This advanced technology combines exceptional energy resolution ( $$\le 1\%$$ ≤ 1 % FWHM at the $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ Q β β value of the neutrinoless double beta decay) and powerful topological event discrimination. Building on the achievements of the NEXT-White detector, the NEXT-100 detector started taking data at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) in May of 2024. Designed to operate with xenon gas at 13.5 bar, NEXT-100 consists of a time projection chamber where the energy and the spatial pattern of the ionising particles in the detector are precisely retrieved using two sensor planes (one with photo-multiplier tubes and the other with silicon photo-multipliers). The detector has been operating at stable conditions using argon and xenon gases at $$\sim $$ ∼ 4 bar and drift fields of $$74\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ 74 V cm - 1 and $$118\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ 118 V cm - 1 , respectively. Alpha decays from the $$^{222}$$ 222 Rn chain have been used to test and monitor the stability of the detector, showing a constant electron lifetime in the drift volume. In this paper, in addition to reporting the results of the commissioning run, we provide a detailed description of the NEXT-100 detector, describe its assembly, and present the current estimation of the radiopurity budget.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.