학술논문
Demonstration of Single Barium Ion Sensitivity for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay using Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
McDonald, A. D.; Jones, B. J. P.; Nygren, D. R.; Adams, C.; Alvarez, V.; Azevedo, C. D. R.; Benlloch-Rodrıguez, J. M.; Borges, F. I. G. M.; Botas, A.; Carcel, S.; Carrion, J. V.; Cebrian, S.; Conde, C. A. N.; Dıaz, J.; Diesburg, M.; Escada, J.; Esteve, R.; Felkai, R.; Fernandes, L. M. P.; Ferrario, P.; Ferreira, A. L.; Freitas, E. D. C.; Goldschmidt, A.; Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Gonzalez-Dıaz, D.; Gutierrez, R. M.; Guenette, R.; Hafidi, K.; Hauptman, J.; Henriques, C. A. O.; Hernandez, A. I.; Morata, J. A. Hernando; Herrero, V.; Johnston, S.; Labarga, L.; Laing, A.; Lebrun, P.; Liubarsky, I.; Lopez-March, N.; Losada, M.; Martın-Albo, J.; Martınez-Lema, G.; Martınez, A.; Monrabal, F.; Monteiro, C. M. B.; Mora, F. J.; Moutinho, L. M.; Vidal, J. Munoz; Musti, M.; Nebot-Guinot, M.; Novella, P.; Palmeiro, B.; Para, A.; Perez, J.; Querol, M.; Repond, J.; Renner, J.; Riordan, S.; Ripoll, L.; Rodrıguez, J.; Rogers, L.; Santos, F. P.; Santos, J. M. F. dos; Simon, A.; Sofka, C.; Sorel, M.; Stiegler, T.; Toledo, J. F.; Torrent, J.; Tsamalaidze, Z.; Veloso, J. F. C. A.; Webb, R.; White, J. T.; Yahlali, N.
Source
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 132504 (2018)
Subject
Language
Abstract
A new method to tag the barium daughter in the double beta decay of $^{136}$Xe is reported. Using the technique of single molecule fluorescent imaging (SMFI), individual barium dication (Ba$^{++}$) resolution at a transparent scanning surface has been demonstrated. A single-step photo-bleach confirms the single ion interpretation. Individual ions are localized with super-resolution ($\sim$2~nm), and detected with a statistical significance of 12.9~$\sigma$ over backgrounds. This lays the foundation for a new and potentially background-free neutrinoless double beta decay technology, based on SMFI coupled to high pressure xenon gas time projection chambers.
Comment: Accepted by PRL
Comment: Accepted by PRL