Abstract
The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is designed to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of ^{130}Te with an array of 988 TeO_2 bolometers operating at temperatures around 10 mK. The experiment is currently being commissioned in Hall A of Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. The goal of CUORE is to reach a 90% C.L. exclusion sensitivity on the ^{130}Te decay half-life of 9 times 10^{25} years after 5 years of data taking. The main issue to be addressed to accomplish this aim is the rate of background events in the region of interest, which must not be higher than 10^{-2} counts/keV/kg/year. We developed a detailed Monte Carlo simulation, based on results from a campaign of material screening, radioassays, and bolometric measurements, to evaluate the expected background. This was used over the years to guide the construction strategies of the experiment and we use it here to project a background model for CUORE. In this paper we report the results of our study and our expectations for the background rate in the energy region where the peak signature of neutrinoless double beta decay of ^{130}Te is expected.
Highlights
Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is a ton scale experiment [1] with the primary physics goal of searching for neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of 130Te
T eO2-based bolometers have long been used in 0νββ decay searches because their properties are wellmatched to the requirements of such experiments; they have a very low heat capacity and exhibit extremely good energy resolution, while simultaneously serving as both the source of the 0νββ decay and the detector
The CUORE detector array is operated in vacuum inside a custom-made cryogenic apparatus that complies with very stringent requirements regarding the lowest temperature reached, the mechanical vibration levels, the stability and reliability over long periods, and the radiopurity of all the materials in use
Summary
CUORE is a ton scale experiment [1] with the primary physics goal of searching for neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of 130Te. The CUORE detector array is operated in vacuum inside a custom-made cryogenic apparatus that complies with very stringent requirements regarding the lowest temperature reached, the mechanical vibration levels, the stability and reliability over long periods, and the radiopurity of all the materials in use. For the periodic energy calibration of the detector, twelve thoriated tungsten wires are deployed into the cryostat; six are guided into NOSV copper tubes that are placed in fixed positions within the 10 mK volume, and six are guided to the outside of the 50 mK shield This allows for a near-uniform irradiation of all the crystals with γ rays from the 232Th decay chain [23]
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