Deep Learning for the KamLAND-Zen Search for 0𝜈𝛽𝛽

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0𝜈𝛽𝛽) is a major interest in neutrino physics. Discovery of 0𝜈𝛽𝛽 would demonstrate that neutrinos are Majorana fermions and that lepton number is not a symmetry of nature, thus providing a possible explanation for the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. KamLAND-Zen is a leading search for 0𝜈𝛽𝛽, having placed the most stringent limit on its half-life at [formula] at 90% C.L. in ¹³⁶Xe. The next phase of KamLAND-Zen is currently running and will place even more stringent limits on the half-life. The sensitivity of KamLAND-Zen is primarily limited by backgrounds, including the muon spallation background ¹⁰C. We present a machine learning algorithm based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) that is able to separate ¹⁰C events from 136Xe events in Monte Carlo simulated data. With a typical kiloton-scale detector configuration like the KamLAND-Zen detector, we find that the algorithm is capable of identifying 61.6% of the ¹⁰C at 90% signal acceptance. The algorithm is independent of vertex and energy reconstruction, so it is complementary to current methods and can be expanded to other background sources.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Fraker, Suzannah

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Winslow, Lindley

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
• Copyright MIT

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143302

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/143302