Influence of neutrons and gamma-rays in the Frejus underground laboratory on the NEMO experiment

Collaboration
2001
12 pages
Published in:
  • Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A 457 (2001) 487-498
Experiments:

Citations per year

20012004200720102013120
Abstract: (Elsevier)
To be sensitive to an effective Majorana neutrino mass, 〈 m ν 〉, on the order of 0.1 eV, the NEMO 3 double beta (ββ(0ν)) decay experiment requires precise knowledge and control of the backgrounds. The effect of neutrons and γ-rays from the Fréjus underground laboratory (LSM, Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane) has been studied during 10 700 h of data collection. The data were taken with a NEMO 2 prototype detector using different shield configurations. Monte Carlo calculations with GEANT/MICAP code and a new library of γ-rays from neutron captures are presented. The implied consequences for the NEMO 3 detector which is under construction are discussed. The neutrinoless double beta decay background induced by neutrons and γ-rays within the LSM will be suppressed to the very suitable level of 0.1 event in a live time of five years given the appropriate shield and magnetic field.
  • 23.40.-s
  • 28.20.-v
  • Neutron
  • γ-ray
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Background
  • Double-beta decay
  • double-beta decay: (0neutrino)
  • molybdenum: nuclide
  • calorimeter