Speaker
Dr
Justin Evans
(University of Manchester)
Description
The SuperNEMO detector, which builds on the highly successful NEMO
project, will search for neutrinoless double beta decay at the Modane
Underground Laboratory on the French-Italian border. If observed,
neutrinoless double beta decay would show that the neutrino is its own
antiparticle, would be the first evidence for total lepton number
violation, and would allow a measurement of the absolute neutrino
mass. With an eventual goal of \unit[100]{kg} of source material, a
sensitivity to a half life of \unit[$10^{26}$]{years} can be achieved. The unique
characteristic of the SuperNEMO detector design is that it allows
complete topological reconstruction of the double beta decay event. In
the event of a discovery, such topological measurements will be vital
in determining the nature of the lepton number violating process. This
topological reconstruction is also key in allowing excellent levels of
background rejection. The topological reconstruction will be performed
by a gaseous tracking detector, consisting of 2,034 drift cells
working in Geiger mode. This tracking detector is currently under
construction in the UK. With the elimination of all radioactive
impurities being vital, the drift cells must be produced in a
high-class cleanroom with minimal human intervention. To enable this,
a robot has been developed to produce the cells. This poster will
present the design of of the tracker and the construction procedure;
it will also present the status of the construction and testing of the
tracker cells.
Primary author
Dr
Justin Evans
(University of Manchester)