The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd

We investigated the potential of the energy resolving hybrid pixel detector Timepix contacted to a CdTe sensor layer for the search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of Cd. We found that a CdTe sensor layer with 3 mm thickness and 165 μm pixel pitch is optimal with respect to the effective Majo...

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Main Authors: Thilo Michel, Thomas Gleixner, Jürgen Durst, Mykhaylo Filipenko, Stefan Geißelsöder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Advances in High Energy Physics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/105318
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author Thilo Michel
Thomas Gleixner
Jürgen Durst
Mykhaylo Filipenko
Stefan Geißelsöder
author_facet Thilo Michel
Thomas Gleixner
Jürgen Durst
Mykhaylo Filipenko
Stefan Geißelsöder
author_sort Thilo Michel
collection DOAJ
description We investigated the potential of the energy resolving hybrid pixel detector Timepix contacted to a CdTe sensor layer for the search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of Cd. We found that a CdTe sensor layer with 3 mm thickness and 165 μm pixel pitch is optimal with respect to the effective Majorana neutrino mass (mββ) sensitivity. In simulations, we were able to demonstrate a possible reduction of the background level caused by single electrons by approximately 75% at a specific background rate of 10−3 counts/(kg×keV×yr) at a detection efficiency reduction of about 23% with track analysis employing random decision forests. Exploitation of the imaging properties with track analysis leads to an improvement in sensitivity to mββ by about 22%. After 5 years of measuring time, the sensitivity to mββ of a 420 kg CdTe experiment (90% Cd enrichment) would be 59 meV on a 90% confidence level for a specific single-electron background rate of 10−3 counts/(kg×keV×yr). The α-particle background can be suppressed by at least about six orders of magnitude. The benefit of the hybrid pixel detector technology might be increased significantly if drift-time difference measurements would allow reconstruction of tracks in three dimensions.
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issn 1687-7357
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spelling doaj-art-ab7d20db1ac04b4091f3a477c46dae352025-08-20T03:39:40ZengWileyAdvances in High Energy Physics1687-73571687-73652013-01-01201310.1155/2013/105318105318The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116CdThilo Michel0Thomas Gleixner1Jürgen Durst2Mykhaylo Filipenko3Stefan Geißelsöder4Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erwin-Rommel-Str. 1, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyErlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erwin-Rommel-Str. 1, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyFaculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Schellingstr. 4, 80799 München, GermanyErlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erwin-Rommel-Str. 1, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyErlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erwin-Rommel-Str. 1, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyWe investigated the potential of the energy resolving hybrid pixel detector Timepix contacted to a CdTe sensor layer for the search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of Cd. We found that a CdTe sensor layer with 3 mm thickness and 165 μm pixel pitch is optimal with respect to the effective Majorana neutrino mass (mββ) sensitivity. In simulations, we were able to demonstrate a possible reduction of the background level caused by single electrons by approximately 75% at a specific background rate of 10−3 counts/(kg×keV×yr) at a detection efficiency reduction of about 23% with track analysis employing random decision forests. Exploitation of the imaging properties with track analysis leads to an improvement in sensitivity to mββ by about 22%. After 5 years of measuring time, the sensitivity to mββ of a 420 kg CdTe experiment (90% Cd enrichment) would be 59 meV on a 90% confidence level for a specific single-electron background rate of 10−3 counts/(kg×keV×yr). The α-particle background can be suppressed by at least about six orders of magnitude. The benefit of the hybrid pixel detector technology might be increased significantly if drift-time difference measurements would allow reconstruction of tracks in three dimensions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/105318
spellingShingle Thilo Michel
Thomas Gleixner
Jürgen Durst
Mykhaylo Filipenko
Stefan Geißelsöder
The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
Advances in High Energy Physics
title The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
title_full The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
title_fullStr The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
title_full_unstemmed The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
title_short The Potential of Hybrid Pixel Detectors in the Search for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 116Cd
title_sort potential of hybrid pixel detectors in the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 116cd
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/105318
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