Simulation tool development and sensitivity analysis of 160Gd double beta decay search by the PIKACHU project

IF 1.4 3区物理与天体物理 Q3 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1016/j.nima.2025.171023

T. Omori , T. Iida , N. Hinohara , K. Takahashi , K. Fushimi , A. Gando , K. Hosokawa , S. Ishidate , M. Ishigami , K. Kamada , K. Mizukoshi , Y. Shoji , H. Suzuki , M. Yoshino

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The PIKACHU project searches for the previously unobserved two-neutrino double beta decay (2

ν 2 β

) of ¹⁶⁰Gd using Ce-doped GAGG crystals. Phase 1 aims to improve the current lower limit on the 2

ν 2 β

half-life of 1.9 × 10¹⁹ years (90% C.L.), and Phase 2 targets the observation of 2

ν 2 β

in ¹⁶⁰Gd with a sensitivity beyond theoretical prediction of 7.4 × 10²⁰ years. In the present paper, we developed background models using GEANT4, including contributions from uranium/thorium chains, ⁴⁰K, and external

γ

-rays. Additionally, signal models for 2

ν 2 β

and neutrino-less mode, 0

ν 2 β

were also implemented. The background model reproduces experimental energy spectra well, allowing us to estimate a Phase 1 sensitivity for 2

ν 2 β

of 4.0

\times

10¹⁹ years (90% C.L.) from pseudo data analysis.

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PIKACHU项目160Gd双β衰变搜索仿真工具开发及灵敏度分析

PIKACHU项目使用掺ce的GAGG晶体寻找160Gd的双中微子双β衰变（2ν2β）。第1阶段的目标是提高目前2ν2β半衰期下限1.9 × 1019年（90% C.L.），第2阶段的目标是在160Gd中以超过理论预测的7.4 × 1020年的灵敏度观测2ν2β。在本文中，我们使用GEANT4建立了背景模型，包括铀/钍链、40K和外部γ射线的贡献。此外，还实现了2ν2β和0ν2β无中微子模式的信号模型。背景模型很好地再现了实验能谱，使我们能够从伪数据分析中估计2ν2β的第一阶段灵敏度为4.0 × 1019年（90% C.L.）。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment 物理-光谱学

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

21.40%

发文量

787

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Section A of Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research publishes papers on design, manufacturing and performance of scientific instruments with an emphasis on large scale facilities. This includes the development of particle accelerators, ion sources, beam transport systems and target arrangements as well as the use of secondary phenomena such as synchrotron radiation and free electron lasers. It also includes all types of instrumentation for the detection and spectrometry of radiations from high energy processes and nuclear decays, as well as instrumentation for experiments at nuclear reactors. Specialized electronics for nuclear and other types of spectrometry as well as computerization of measurements and control systems in this area also find their place in the A section. Theoretical as well as experimental papers are accepted.