The NEXT experiment: searching for neutrinoless double beta decay in high pressure gaseous Xe
by
Sala de Conferências
Departamento de Física FCTUC
NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) is a staged experimental program aiming at the detection of 0νββ decay in 136Xe, using successive generations of high-pressure gaseous xenon electroluminescent time projection chambers (HPXe EL-TPC). Such an approach allows for strong energy resolution, ~1% FWHM at Qββ (2458 ke8), while providing a strong additional handle for background rejection: the unique topological signature that a double electron produces in a gaseous medium by displaying two Bragg peak dense ionization regions at the opposite ends of the track.
In this talk I'll discuss how NEXT tackles the different aspects that are derived from the experimental challenge of 0νββ decay searches. An overview of the latest results produced by the NEXT-White detector, which finished operations last summer, will be presented followed by a discussion of both short and long-term plans of the experiment.
Paulo Brás e Pedro Costa
