The neutron veto of the XENONnT experiment: results with demineralized water.
Saved in:
| Title: | The neutron veto of the XENONnT experiment: results with demineralized water. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Aprile, E.1 (AUTHOR), Aalbers, J.2 (AUTHOR), Abe, K.3 (AUTHOR), Ahmed Maouloud, S.4 (AUTHOR), Althueser, L.5 (AUTHOR), Andrieu, B.4 (AUTHOR), Angelino, E.6,7 (AUTHOR), Antón Martin, D.8 (AUTHOR), Arneodo, F.9 (AUTHOR), Baudis, L.10 (AUTHOR), Bazyk, M.11 (AUTHOR), Bellagamba, L.12 (AUTHOR), Biondi, R.13 (AUTHOR), Bismark, A.10 (AUTHOR), Boese, K.13 (AUTHOR), Brown, A.14 (AUTHOR), Bruno, G.11 (AUTHOR), Budnik, R.15 (AUTHOR), Cai, C.16 (AUTHOR), Capelli, C.10 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Physical Journal C -- Particles & Fields. Jun2025, Vol. 85 Issue 6, p1-16. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Weakly interacting massive particles, Neutron counters, Cherenkov counters, Cherenkov radiation, Neutron capture |
| Abstract: | Radiogenic neutrons emitted by detector materials are one of the most challenging backgrounds for the direct search of dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). To mitigate this background, the XENONnT experiment is equipped with a novel gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector, which encloses the xenon dual-phase time projection chamber (TPC). The neutron veto (NV) can tag neutrons via their capture on gadolinium or hydrogen, which release γ -rays that are subsequently detected as Cherenkov light. In this work, we present the first results of the XENONnT NV when operated with demineralized water only, before the insertion of gadolinium. Its efficiency for detecting neutrons is (82 ± 1) % , the highest neutron detection efficiency achieved in a water Cherenkov detector. This enables a high efficiency of (53 ± 3) % for the tagging of WIMP-like neutron signals, inside a tagging time window of 250 μ s between TPC and NV, leading to a livetime loss of 1.6 % during the first science run of XENONnT. [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: | Radiogenic neutrons emitted by detector materials are one of the most challenging backgrounds for the direct search of dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). To mitigate this background, the XENONnT experiment is equipped with a novel gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector, which encloses the xenon dual-phase time projection chamber (TPC). The neutron veto (NV) can tag neutrons via their capture on gadolinium or hydrogen, which release γ -rays that are subsequently detected as Cherenkov light. In this work, we present the first results of the XENONnT NV when operated with demineralized water only, before the insertion of gadolinium. Its efficiency for detecting neutrons is (82 ± 1) % , the highest neutron detection efficiency achieved in a water Cherenkov detector. This enables a high efficiency of (53 ± 3) % for the tagging of WIMP-like neutron signals, inside a tagging time window of 250 μ s between TPC and NV, leading to a livetime loss of 1.6 % during the first science run of XENONnT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 14346044 |
| DOI: | 10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14105-0 |
