Sensitivity Models for [Beta]+/EC Discovery in Large-Volume Scintillation Detectors
Name
1191824347-MIT.pdf
Size
1.39 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
cd46e648854d8a3fcedc64e4928872ec
Author(s)
Graham, Eleanor(Eleanor L.)
Advisor(s)
Lindley Winslow.
Date Issued
2020
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
In this thesis, we consider the [Beta]+/EC decay of 124Xe and take the first steps towards characterizing a hypothetical experiment to detect it, making use of techniques traditionally employed in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. We use a simulated large-volume scintillation detector modeled on the Super-Kamiokande experiment, fully implementing this detector in RAT/Geant4. This allows us to extract authentic spectra for the experimental signature of the [Beta]+/EC decay in 124Xe, paving the way for future sensitivity studies. We also consider the relevance of next-generation techniques for background discrimination, specifically particle identification based on counting Cherenkov photons. We find that discrimination between [Beta] and [Beta] particles is readily possible in experiments run at the 1.25 MeV energy scale and also see evidence for the possibility of distinguishing between [Beta]+ and [Beta]- particles via their Cherenkov signatures
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, 2020
In title on title page, "[Beta]" is the Greek letter. Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-49).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
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