Neutron background in large-scale xenon detectors for dark matter searches

2004/04/30 by M. J. Carson, M. Carson, J.C. Davies +17
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Particle Detector Development and Performance #hep-ex

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2004.05.001

published as Astropart.Phys.21:667-687,2004 · 35 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics

arxiv created 2004/04/30 · openalex publication_date 2004/05/30 · arxiv updated 2011/05/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Simulations of the neutron background for future large-scale particle dark matter detectors are presented. Neutrons were generated in rock and detector elements via spontaneous fission and (alpha,n) reactions, and by cosmic-ray muons. The simulation techniques and results are discussed in the context of the expected sensitivity of a generic liquid xenon dark matter detector. Methods of neutron background suppression are investigated. A sensitivity of 10^-9-10^-10 pb to WIMP-nucleon interactions can be achieved by a tonne-scale detector.

Citations

• Review of mathematics, numerical factors, and corrections for dark matter experiments based on elastic nuclear recoil
• Energy Spectrum of Neutrons from Thermal Fission of U 235
• The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory