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T. Redon

Publications and source records attributed to T. Redon.

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First demonstration of 30 eVee ionization energy resolution with Ricochet germanium cryogenic bolometers

The future Ricochet experiment aims to search for new physics in the electroweak sector by measuring the Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering process from reactor antineutrinos with high precision down to the sub-100 eV nuclear recoil energy range. While the Ricochet collaboration is currently building the experimental setup at the reactor site, it is also finalizing the cryogenic detector arrays that will be integrated into the cryostat at the Institut Laue Langevin in early 2024. In this paper, we report on recent progress from the Ge cryogenic detector technology, called the CryoCube. More specifically, we present the first demonstration of a 30~eVee (electron equivalent) baseline ionization resolution (RMS) achieved with an early design of the detector assembly and its dedicated High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) based front-end electronics. This represents an order of magnitude improvement over the best ionization resolutions obtained on similar heat-and-ionization germanium cryogenic detectors from the EDELWEISS and SuperCDMS dark matter experiments, and a factor of three improvement compared to the first fully-cryogenic HEMT-based preamplifier coupled to a CDMS-II germanium detector. Additionally, we discuss the implications of these results in the context of the future Ricochet experiment and its expected background mitigation performance.

astro-ph.IM

Results from a Prototype TES Detector for the Ricochet Experiment

Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) offers valuable sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model. The Ricochet experiment will use cryogenic solid-state detectors to perform a precision measurement of the CE$\nu$NS spectrum induced by the high neutrino flux from the Institut Laue-Langevin nuclear reactor. The experiment will employ an array of detectors, each with a mass of $\sim$30 g and a targeted energy threshold of 50 eV. Nine of these detectors (the "Q-Array") will be based on a novel Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) readout style, in which the TES devices are thermally coupled to the absorber using a gold wire bond. We present initial characterization of a Q-Array-style detector using a 1 gram silicon absorber, obtaining a baseline root-mean-square resolution of less than 40 eV.

physics.ins-det

Fast neutron background characterization of the future Ricochet experiment at the ILL research nuclear reactor

The future Ricochet experiment aims at searching for new physics in the electroweak sector by providing a high precision measurement of the Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CENNS) process down to the sub-100 eV nuclear recoil energy range. The experiment will deploy a kg-scale low-energy-threshold detector array combining Ge and Zn target crystals 8.8 meters away from the 58 MW research nuclear reactor core of the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France. Currently, the Ricochet collaboration is characterizing the backgrounds at its future experimental site in order to optimize the experiment's shielding design. The most threatening background component, which cannot be actively rejected by particle identification, consists of keV-scale neutron-induced nuclear recoils. These initial fast neutrons are generated by the reactor core and surrounding experiments (reactogenics), and by the cosmic rays producing primary neutrons and muon-induced neutrons in the surrounding materials. In this paper, we present the Ricochet neutron background characterization using $^3$He proportional counters which exhibit a high sensitivity to thermal, epithermal and fast neutrons. We compare these measurements to the Ricochet Geant4 simulations to validate our reactogenic and cosmogenic neutron background estimations. Eventually, we present our estimated neutron background for the future Ricochet experiment and the resulting CENNS detection significance.

astro-ph.IM

Ricochet Progress and Status

We present an overview of recent progress towards the Ricochet coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering CE$\nu$NS experiment. The ILL research reactor in Grenoble, France has been selected as the experiment site, after in situ studies of vibration and particle backgrounds. We present background rate estimates specific to that site, along with descriptions of the planned CryoCube and Q-Array detector payloads.

physics.ins-det

First test of a $\mathrm{CdMoO_4}$ scintillating bolometer for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments with $\mathrm{{}^{116}Cd}$ and $\mathrm{{}^{100}Mo}$ nuclides

A large cylindrical cadmium molybdate crystal with natural isotopic abundance has been used to fabricate a scintillating bolometer. The measurement was performed above ground at milli-Kelvin temperature, with simultaneous readout of the heat and the scintillation light. The energy resolution as FWHM has achieved from 5 keV (at 238 keV) to 13 keV (at 2615 keV). We present the results of the $\alpha$ versus $\beta$/$\gamma$ events discrimination. The low internal trace contamination of the $\mathrm{CdMoO_4}$ crystal was evaluated as well. The detector performance with preliminary positive indications proves that cadmium molybdate crystal is a promising absorber for neutrinoless double beta decay scintillating bolometric experiments with $\mathrm{{}^{116}Cd}$ and $\mathrm{{}^{100}Mo}$ nuclides in the next-generation technique.

physics.ins-det

First scintillating bolometer tests of a CLYMENE R&D on Li$_2$MoO$_4$ scintillators towards a large-scale double-beta decay experiment

A new R&D on lithium molybdate scintillators has begun within a project CLYMENE (Czochralski growth of Li$_2$MoO$_4$ crYstals for the scintillating boloMeters used in the rare EveNts sEarches). One of the main goals of the CLYMENE is a realization of a Li$_2$MoO$_4$ crystal growth line to be complementary to the one recently developed by LUMINEU in view of a mass production capacity for CUPID, a next-generation tonne-scale bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. In the present paper we report the investigation of performance and radiopurity of 158-g and 13.5-g scintillating bolometers based on a first large-mass (230 g) Li$_2$MoO$_4$ crystal scintillator developed within the CLYMENE project. In particular, a good energy resolution (2--7 keV FWHM in the energy range of 0.2--5 MeV), one of the highest light yield (0.97 keV/MeV) amongst Li$_2$MoO$_4$ scintillating bolometers, an efficient alpha particles discrimination (10$\sigma$) and potentially low internal radioactive contamination (below 0.2--0.3 mBq/kg of U/Th, but 1.4 mBq/kg of $^{210}$Po) demonstrate prospects of the CLYMENE in the development of high quality and radiopure Li$_2$MoO$_4$ scintillators for CUPID.

physics.ins-det

Complete event-by-event $\alpha$/$\gamma(\beta)$ separation in a full-size TeO$_2$ CUORE bolometer by Neganov-Luke-magnified light detection

In the present work, we describe the results obtained with a large ($\approx 133$ cm$^3$) TeO$_2$ bolometer, with a view to a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) of $^{130}$Te. We demonstrate an efficient $\alpha$ particle discrimination (99.9\%) with a high acceptance of the $0\nu\beta\beta$ signal (about 96\%), expected at $\approx 2.5$ MeV. This unprecedented result was possible thanks to the superior performance (10 eV rms baseline noise) of a Neganov-Luke-assisted germanium bolometer used to detect a tiny (70 eV) light signal from the TeO$_2$ detector, dominated by $\gamma$($\beta$)-induced Cherenkov radiation but exhibiting also a clear scintillation component. The obtained results represent a major breakthrough towards the TeO$_2$-based version of CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification (CUPID), a ton-scale cryogenic $0\nu\beta\beta$ experiment proposed as a follow-up to the CUORE project with particle identification. The CUORE experiment began recently a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{130}$Te with an array of 988 125-cm$^3$ TeO$_2$ bolometers. The lack of $\alpha$ discrimination in CUORE makes $\alpha$ decays at the detector surface the dominant background component, at the level of $\approx 0.01$ counts/(keV kg y) in the region of interest. We show here, for the first time with a CUORE-size bolometer and using the same technology as CUORE for the readout of both heat and light signals, that surface $\alpha$ background can be fully rejected.

physics.ins-det

Development of $^{100}$Mo-containing scintillating bolometers for a high-sensitivity neutrinoless double-beta decay search

This paper reports on the development of a technology involving $^{100}$Mo-enriched scintillating bolometers, compatible with the goals of CUPID, a proposed next-generation bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Large mass ($\sim$1~kg), high optical quality, radiopure $^{100}$Mo-containing zinc and lithium molybdate crystals have been produced and used to develop high performance single detector modules based on 0.2--0.4~kg scintillating bolometers. In particular, the energy resolution of the lithium molybdate detectors near the $Q$-value of the double-beta transition of $^{100}$Mo (3034~keV) is 4--6~keV FWHM. The rejection of the $\alpha$-induced dominant background above 2.6~MeV is better than 8$\sigma$. Less than 10~$\mu$Bq/kg activity of $^{232}$Th ($^{228}$Th) and $^{226}$Ra in the crystals is ensured by boule recrystallization. The potential of $^{100}$Mo-enriched scintillating bolometers to perform high sensitivity double-beta decay searches has been demonstrated with only 10~kg$\times$d exposure: the two neutrino double-beta decay half-life of $^{100}$Mo has been measured with the up-to-date highest accuracy as $T_{1/2}$ = [6.90 $\pm$ 0.15(stat.) $\pm$ 0.37(syst.)] $\times$ 10$^{18}$~yr. Both crystallization and detector technologies favor lithium molybdate, which has been selected for the ongoing construction of the CUPID-0/Mo demonstrator, containing several kg of $^{100}$Mo.

physics.ins-det

LUMINEU: a search for neutrinoless double beta decay based on ZnMoO$_4$ scintillating bolometers

The LUMINEU is designed to investigate the possibility to search for neutrinoless double beta decay in $^{100}$Mo by means of a large array of scintillating bolometers based on ZnMoO$_4$ crystals enriched in $^{100}$Mo. High energy resolution and relatively fast detectors, which are able to measure both the light and the heat generated upon the interaction of a particle in a crystal, are very promising for the recognition and rejection of background events. We present the LUMINEU concepts and the experimental results achieved aboveground and underground with large-mass natural and enriched crystals. The measured energy resolution, the $\alpha/\beta$ discrimination power and the radioactive internal contamination are all within the specifications for the projected final LUMINEU sensitivity. Simulations and preliminary results confirm that the LUMINEU technology can reach zero background in the region of interest (around 3 MeV) with exposures of the order of hundreds kg$\times$years, setting the bases for a next generation $0\nu2\beta$ decay experiment capable to explore the inverted hierarchy region of the neutrino mass pattern.

nucl-ex

Proceedings of the third French-Ukrainian workshop on the instrumentation developments for HEP

The reports collected in these proceedings have been presented in the third French-Ukrainian workshop on the instrumentation developments for high-energy physics held at LAL, Orsay on October 15-16. The workshop was conducted in the scope of the IDEATE International Associated Laboratory (LIA). Joint developments between French and Ukrainian laboratories and universities as well as new proposals have been discussed. The main topics of the papers presented in the Proceedings are developments for accelerator and beam monitoring, detector developments, joint developments for large-scale high-energy and astroparticle physics projects, medical applications.

physics.ins-det

Scintillating bolometers based on ZnMoO$_4$ and Zn$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals to search for 0$\nu$2$\beta$ decay of $^{100}$Mo (LUMINEU project): first tests at the Modane Underground Laboratory

The technology of scintillating bolometers based on zinc molybdate (ZnMoO$_4$) crystals is under development within the LUMINEU project to search for 0$\nu$2$\beta$ decay of $^{100}$Mo with the goal to set the basis for large scale experiments capable to explore the inverted hierarchy region of the neutrino mass pattern. Advanced ZnMoO$_4$ crystal scintillators with mass of $\sim$~0.3 kg were developed and Zn$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystal from enriched $^{100}$Mo was produced for the first time by using the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique. One ZnMoO$_4$ scintillator and two samples (59 g and 63 g) cut from the enriched boule were tested aboveground at milli-Kelvin temperature as scintillating bolometers showing a high detection performance. The first results of the low background measurements with three ZnMoO$_4$ and two enriched detectors installed in the EDELWEISS set-up at the Modane Underground Laboratory (France) are presented.

physics.ins-det

Purification of molybdenum oxide, growth and characterization of medium size zinc molybdate crystals for the LUMINEU program

The LUMINEU program aims at performing a pilot experiment on neutrinoless double beta decay of 100Mo using radiopure ZnMoO4 crystals operated as scintillating bolometers. Growth of high quality radiopure crystals is a complex task, since there are no commercially available molybdenum compounds with the required levels of purity and radioactive contamination. This paper discusses approaches to purify molybdenum and synthesize compound for high quality radiopure ZnMoO4 crystal growth. A combination of a double sublimation (with addition of zinc molybdate) with subsequent recrystallization in aqueous solutions (using zinc molybdate as a collector) was used. Zinc molybdate crystals up to 1.5 kg were grown by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique, their optical, luminescent, diamagnetic, thermal and bolometric properties were tested.

physics.ins-det