Monte Carlo simulation of the Cherenkov radiation emitted by $TeO_2$ crystal when crossed by cosmic muons

TeO 2 crystals are currently used as bolometric detectors in experiments searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130 Te. The extreme rarity of the studied signal forces the experiments to reach an ultra low background level. The main background source is represented by α particles emitted by radioactive contaminants placed in the materials that compose and surround the detector. Recent measurements show that a particle discrimination in TeO 2 bolometers detecting the light emitted by β = γ particles is possible, opening the possibility to make large improvements in the performance of experiments based on this kind of materials. In order to understand the nature of this light emission a measurement at room temperature with TeO 2 crystals was performed. According to these results, the detected light was compatible with the Cherenkov emission, even though the scintillation hypothesis could not be discarded. In this work a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of the Cherenkov radiation emitted by TeO 2 crystal when crossed by cosmic muons was performed. The data from MC and the room temperature measurement are perfectly compatible and prove that the Cherenkov light is the only component of the light yield of TeO 2 crystals

Bolometers
Cherenkov light
Neutrinoless double beta decay
radiation: Cherenkov
radiation: emission
numerical calculations: Monte Carlo
crystal
muon

References(5)

Figures(0)

[2]

130Te Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay with CUORICINO

E. Andreotti
(
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,
C. Arnaboldi
(
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)
,
F.T. Avignone
(
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)
,
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(
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)
,
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(
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)

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•
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•
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T. Tabarelli de Fatis
(
- Milan Bicocca U.
)

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•
DOI:
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[4]

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J.W. Beeman
(
- LBL, Berkeley
)
,
F. Bellini
(
- Rome U. and
- INFN, Rome
)
,
L. Cardani
(
- Rome U. and
- INFN, Rome
)
,
N. Casali
(
- Rome U. and
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)
,
I. Dafinei
(
- INFN, Rome
)

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•
e-Print:
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•
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[5]

Measurements of the Cerenkov light emitted by a TeO2 crystal

F. Bellini
(
- Rome U. and
- INFN, Rome
)
,
N. Casali
(
- INFN, Rome and
- L'Aquila U.
)
,
I. Dafinei
(
- INFN, Rome
)
,
M. Marafini
(
- INFN, Rome
)
,
S. Morganti
(
- INFN, Rome
)

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•
e-Print:
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•
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[6]

François-Xavier Gentit, Litrani: A general purpose Monte-Carlo program simulating light propagation in isotropic or anisotropic media. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research : Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 486 (1-2) 35-39

Section A

Monte Carlo simulation of the Cherenkov radiation emitted by TeO2TeO_2TeO2​ crystal when crossed by cosmic muons

Citations per year

130Te Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay with CUORICINO

Cerenkov emission as a positive tag of double beta decays in bolometric experiments

Discrimination of alpha and beta/gamma interactions in a TeO2_22​ bolometer

Measurements of the Cerenkov light emitted by a TeO2 crystal

Monte Carlo simulation of the Cherenkov radiation emitted by $TeO_2$ crystal when crossed by cosmic muons

Discrimination of alpha and beta/gamma interactions in a TeO $_2$ bolometer