Canadian Participation in EXO

David Sinclair Carleton University

The Rationale

• • • The demonstration by SNO/Super-K /KamLand of neutrino oscillations points to double beta decay as a next critical direction for physics Canadian groups have lot of expertise in the technical challenges of these experiments Canada is committed to a programme of deep underground physics

The Interested Groups

• • • • • UBC – Doug Bryman U. Montreal – George Azuelos, Claude Leroy, Jean_Pierre Martin,Louis-Andre Hamel, Viktor Zacek Laurentian – Jacques Farine, possibly others Guelph – Jimmy Law, Jagam, Possibly others Carleton – Alain Bellerive, Madhu Dixit, Cliff Hargrove, David Sinclair

Other Canadian Activity in Double beta decay

• • A group at Queen’s will work with the Majorana collaboration on Ge detectors.

There may be common facilities developed (eg low background counting) but the individuals will collaborate on only one project.

Laurentian Plans

• • • • Jacques sends his regrets. He was not able to get a visa to travel to the US.

Jacques did his thesis on NUMU He leads the SNO low energy background group He wishes to study Rn and Kr removal from Xe

Guelph

• • Participants in SNO Would work on establishment of a low background Ge counting facility for materials studies and on radon reduction • Search for a senior professorship

Carleton Participation

• Group Background – OPAL Vertex chamber, Z chamber – First TPC used in an experiment – SNO water purification/assay systems – SNO analysis • Resources – Engineering – Workshop experienced in HEP detector construction – Computer farm

Carleton Participants

• • • • Alain Bellerive – SNO, OPAL, CLEO Madhu Dixit – TPC for NLC, OPAL Cliff Hargrove – SNO, OPAL, David Sinclair – SNO, Low energy nuclear

Possible Carleton Programme

• • • • • • • Investigation into Xe detector options Study possible advantages of electroluminescence Look at Micromegas, GEM applications in Xe Detector simulations Radioactivity studies (LAAPD’s) Could provide engineering/fabrication assistance for the prototype programme Expect to look for RA in near future