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Multi-layer scintillation detector for the MOON double beta decay experiment: Scintillation photon responses studied by a prototype detector MOON-1

H. Nakamura, P. Doe, H. Ejiri, S. R. Elliott, J. Engel, M. Finger, M. Finger., K. Fushimi, V. Gehman, A. Gorin, M. Greenfield, V. H. Hai, R. Hazama, K. Higa, T. Higashiguchi, K. Ichihara, Y. Ikegami, J. Imoto, H. Ishii, T. Itahashi, H. Kaneko, P. Kavitov, H. Kawasuso, V. Kekelidze, K. Matsuoka, T. Mizuhashi, D. Noda, M. Nomachi, K. Onishi, T. Ogama, A. Para, R. G. H. Robertson, M. Sakamoto, T. Sakiuchi, Y. Samejima, Y. Shichijo, T. Shima, Y. Shimada, G. Shirkov, A. Sissakian, M. Slunecka, Y. Sugaya, A. Titov, M. Uenoyama, S. Umehara, A. Urano, V. Vatulin, V. Voronov, J. F. Wilkerson, D. I. Will, K. Yasuda, S. Yoshida, M. Yoshihuku

nucl-exarXiv:nucl-ex/0609008

Abstract

An ensemble of multi-layer scintillators is discussed as an option of the high-sensitivity detector Mo Observatory Of Neutrinos (MOON) for spectroscopic measurements of neutrino-less double beta decays. A prototype detector MOON-1, which consists of 6 layer plastic-scintillator plates, was built to study the sensitivity of the MOON-type detector. The scintillation photon collection and the energy resolution, which are key elements for the high-sensitivity experiments, are found to be 1835+/-30 photo-electrons for 976 keV electrons and sigma = 2.9+/-0.1% (dE/E = 6.8+/-0.3 % in FWHM) at the Qbb ~ 3 MeV region, respectively. The multi-layer plastic-scintillator structure with good energy resolution as well as good background suppression of beta-gamma rays is crucial for the MOON-type detector to achieve the inverted hierarchy neutrino mass sensitivity.

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