Latest results of NEXT-DEMO, the prototype of the NEXT 100 double beta decay experiment

Abstract

NEXT-DEMO is a 1:4.5 scale prototype of the NEXT100 detector, a high-pressure xenon gas TPC that will search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{136}$Xe. X-ray energy depositions produced by the de-excitation of Xenon atoms after the interaction of gamma rays from radioactive sources have been used to characterize the response of the detector obtaining the spatial calibration needed for close-to-optimal energy resolution. Our result, 5.5% FWHM at 30 keV, extrapolates to 0.6% FWHM at the Q value of $^{136}$Xe. Additionally, alpha decays from radon have been used to measure several detection properties and parameters of xenon gas such as electron-ion recombination, electron drift velocity, diffusion and primary scintillation light yield. Alpha spectroscopy is also used to quantify the activity of radon inside the detector, a potential source of background for most double beta decay experiments.