JUNO sensitivity to invisible decay modes of neutrons.
Saved in:
| Title: | JUNO sensitivity to invisible decay modes of neutrons. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Abusleme, Angel1,2 (AUTHOR), Adam, Thomas3 (AUTHOR), Adamowicz, Kai4 (AUTHOR), Ahmad, Shakeel5 (AUTHOR), Ahmed, Rizwan5 (AUTHOR), Aiello, Sebastiano6 (AUTHOR), An, Fengpeng7 (AUTHOR), An, Qi8 (AUTHOR), Andronico, Giuseppe6 (AUTHOR), Anfimov, Nikolay9 (AUTHOR), Antonelli, Vito10 (AUTHOR), Antoshkina, Tatiana9 (AUTHOR), de André, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes3 (AUTHOR), Auguste, Didier11 (AUTHOR), Bai, Weidong7 (AUTHOR), Balashov, Nikita9 (AUTHOR), Baldini, Wander12 (AUTHOR), Barresi, Andrea13 (AUTHOR), Basilico, Davide10 (AUTHOR), Baussan, Eric3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Physical Journal C -- Particles & Fields. Jan2025, Vol. 85 Issue 1, p1-20. 20p. |
| Abstract: | We explore the decay of bound neutrons in the JUNO liquid scintillator detector into invisible particles (e.g., n → 3 ν or n n → 2 ν ), which do not produce an observable signal. The invisible decay includes two decay modes: n → inv and n n → inv . The invisible decays of s-shell neutrons in 12 C will leave a highly excited residual nucleus. Subsequently, some de-excitation modes of the excited residual nuclei can produce a time- and space-correlated triple coincidence signal in the JUNO detector. Based on a full Monte Carlo simulation informed with the latest available data, we estimate all backgrounds, including inverse beta decay events of the reactor antineutrino ν ¯ e , natural radioactivity, cosmogenic isotopes and neutral current interactions of atmospheric neutrinos. Pulse shape discrimination and multivariate analysis techniques are employed to further suppress backgrounds. With two years of exposure, JUNO is expected to give an order of magnitude improvement compared to the current best limits. After 10 years of data taking, the JUNO expected sensitivities at a 90% confidence level are τ / B (n → inv) > 5.0 × 10 31 years and τ / B (n n → inv) > 1.4 × 10 32 years . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of European Physical Journal C -- Particles & Fields is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | We explore the decay of bound neutrons in the JUNO liquid scintillator detector into invisible particles (e.g., n → 3 ν or n n → 2 ν ), which do not produce an observable signal. The invisible decay includes two decay modes: n → inv and n n → inv . The invisible decays of s-shell neutrons in 12 C will leave a highly excited residual nucleus. Subsequently, some de-excitation modes of the excited residual nuclei can produce a time- and space-correlated triple coincidence signal in the JUNO detector. Based on a full Monte Carlo simulation informed with the latest available data, we estimate all backgrounds, including inverse beta decay events of the reactor antineutrino ν ¯ e , natural radioactivity, cosmogenic isotopes and neutral current interactions of atmospheric neutrinos. Pulse shape discrimination and multivariate analysis techniques are employed to further suppress backgrounds. With two years of exposure, JUNO is expected to give an order of magnitude improvement compared to the current best limits. After 10 years of data taking, the JUNO expected sensitivities at a 90% confidence level are τ / B (n → inv) > 5.0 × 10 31 years and τ / B (n n → inv) > 1.4 × 10 32 years . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 14346044 |
| DOI: | 10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13638-0 |
