results of nemo 3 and status of supernemo
DESCRIPTION
Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO. Ladislav VÁLA on behalf of the NEMO 3 and SuperNEMO collaborations Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics Czech Technical University in Prague. NOW 2008, 6 – 13 September 2008, Conca Specchiulla, Italy. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO
Ladislav VÁLAon behalf of the NEMO 3 and SuperNEMO collaborations
Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics
Czech Technical University in Prague
NOW 2008, 6 – 13 September 2008, Conca Specchiulla, Italy
Brief introduction – decay
NEMO 3 – description and results
SuperNEMO – current status
Summary
Outline
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
In even-even nuclei where single decay is highly suppressed or forbidden but decay is possible, e.g. 48Ca, 76Ge, 82Se, 96Zr, 100Mo,116Cd, 130Te, 136Xe, 150Nd,…
100Mo0+
21+
01+
41+
0+
100Ru
22+
30
34
ke
V
100Tc1+
Double beta decay
2 = (T1/2)-1 = G2(Q11,Z) |M2|
2
G2 – phase space factor M – nuclear matrix element
Two-neutrino decay (2):(A,Z) →(A,Z+2) + 2 e + 2 e
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Neutrinoless decay (0):(A,Z) →(A,Z+2) + 2 e
0 = (T1/2)-1 = G0(Q5,Z) |M0|
2 m2
G0 – phase space factor M – nuclear matrix elementm = | j |Uej
|2 eij mj | – effective neutrino mass
Energy sum of the electrons
Beyond SM L = 2, Majorana neutrinos with mass > 0Can be due to: light neutrino exchange m, right-handed currents, Majorana emission, SUSY particle exchange
Calorimetry plus tracking Detection of both electrons: reject unknown nuclear gamma lines
Three kinematic observables: study underlying physics mechanism
(i) individual electron energies (ii) angular correlation (iii) energy sum
Sources separated fromthe detector: measure T1/2 for several isotopes
Background rejection throughparticle identification: e–, e+, , particles
Unique and complementary
NEMO experimental approach
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Modane
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Detector located in the LSM Modane underground laboratory, France (4800 m.w.e.)
Source: 10 kg of isotopes, cylindrical, S = 20 m2, foils ~ 60mg/cm2
Tracking detector: drift wire chamber operating in Geiger mode (6180 cells)gas = 94% He + 4% ethyl alcohol + 1% Ar + 0.1% H2O
Calorimeter: 1940 plastic scintillators coupled to low radioactivity PMTs
NEMO 3 detector
NEMO = Neutrino Ettore Majorana Observatory
B (25 G)
4 m
20 sectors
3 m
6 m
6 m
Magnetic field: 25 GaussGamma shield: pure iron (18 cm layer)Neutron shield: borated water (ext. wall, 30 cm layer) & wood (top and bottom, 40 cm layer)
Surrounded by an anti-radon tent supplied with Rn-free air from an anti-radon factory
identification of e–, e+, and -particles
116Cd 405 gQ = 2805 keV
96Zr 9.4 gQ = 3350 keV
150Nd 37.0 gQ = 3367 keV
48Ca 7.0 gQ = 4272 keV
130Te 454 gQ = 2529 keV
natTe 491 g
Cu 621 g
2 decaymeasurement
External background measurement
100Mo 6.914 kgQ = 3034 keV 0 decay search
82Se 0.932 kgQ = 2995 keV
&
NEMO 3 sources
All sources produced by centrifugation in Russia
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Deposited energy: E1 + E2= 2088 keVInternal hypothesis: (t)mes – (t)theo = 0.22 nsCommon vertex: (vertex) = 2.1 mm (vertex)// = 5.7 mm
Run Number: 2040Event Number: 9732Date: 2003-03-20
100Mo foils
Scintillator+ PMT
Longitudinal viewTransverse view
Vertex of the ee emission
Vertex of the ee emission
event reconstruction
Criteria to select events:
• 2 tracks with charge < 0• 2 PMTs, each > 200 keV• PMT-Track association • Common vertex
• Internal hypothesis TOF (external event rejection)• No other isolated PMT ( rejection)• No delayed track (214Bi rejection)
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Results for 2 of 130Te
Preliminary result:
130Te: T1/2 = [ 7.6 ± 1.5 (stat) ± 0.8 (syst) ] 1020 y
Preliminary result:
130Te: T1/2 = [ 7.6 ± 1.5 (stat) ± 0.8 (syst) ] 1020 y
S + B = 607 events
109 events454 g
534 daysS/B = 0.25
background subtracted
NEMO-3 NEMO-3
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Energy sum of the electrons Energy sum of the electrons
Cut at 1.5 MeV
E1 + E2 (MeV)
Preliminary results: T1/2 (2) = [4.4 +0.5
-0.4 (stat) ± 0.4 (syst)] × 1019 y
T1/2 (0) > 1.3 × 1022 y (90% C.L.) m < 29.6 eV (90% C.L.), eff. 22%
Preliminary results: T1/2 (2) = [4.4 +0.5
-0.4 (stat) ± 0.4 (syst)] × 1019 y
T1/2 (0) > 1.3 × 1022 y (90% C.L.) m < 29.6 eV (90% C.L.), eff. 22%
133 events7g
948 daysS/B = 6.76
NEMO-3
New results for 48Ca
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
NEMO-3
Angular distribution
High bkg here due to contamination with 90Sr
Energy sum of the electrons
Cut at 0
NME: E. Caurrier et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 (2008) 052503.
New results for 96Zr
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
[1] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 75 (2007) 051303(R).[2] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 76 (2007) 024315.[3] F.Šimkovic et al., Phys.Rev. C 77 (2008) 045503. N
ME
:
9.4 g925 days
S/B = 1
NEMO-3 NEMO-3
Angular distributionEnergy sum of the electrons
Preliminary results:
T1/2 (2) = [2.3 ± 0.2(stat) ± 0.3 (syst)] × 1019 y
T1/2 (0) > 8.6 × 1022 y (90% C.L.) m < (7.4 – 20.1) eV [1–3]
Preliminary results:
T1/2 (2) = [2.3 ± 0.2(stat) ± 0.3 (syst)] × 1019 y
T1/2 (0) > 8.6 × 1022 y (90% C.L.) m < (7.4 – 20.1) eV [1–3]
New results for 2 of 150Nd
Preliminary result:
150Nd: T1/2 = [ 7.20 +0.25-0.22 (stat) ± 0.73 (syst) ] 1018 y
Preliminary result:
150Nd: T1/2 = [ 7.20 +0.25-0.22 (stat) ± 0.73 (syst) ] 1018 y
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Angular distributionEnergy sum of the electrons
0 results for 150Nd
2 bkg + radioactive bkg MC
radioactive bkg MC
0 MC (T1/2 = 1.45×1022 y)
150Nd
Above 2.5 MeV28.6 ± 2.7 events expected from
background29 events observed
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Light neutrino exchange:LEP CLs statistical method above 2.5 MeVDetection efficiency: 19%
NME: V.A. Rodin et al., Nucl. Phys. A 766 (2006) 107.
Previous result: T1/2 > 1.7 × 1021 y (90% CL)
A.A. Klimenko et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. B 17 (1986) 445.
Right-handed currents:
Emission of Majoron (M1):
T1/2 (0) > 1.45 × 1022 y (90% CL)
m < 3.7 – 5.1 eV
T1/2 (0) > 1.45 × 1022 y (90% CL)
m < 3.7 – 5.1 eV
T1/2 (0) > 1.27 × 1022 y (90% CL)T1/2 (0) > 1.27 × 1022 y (90% CL)
T1/2 (0) > 1.55 × 1021 y (90% CL)T1/2 (0) > 1.55 × 1021 y (90% CL)
[1] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 75 (2007) 051303(R). [2] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 76 (2007) 024315. [3] V.A.Rodin et al., Nucl.Phys. A 793 (2007) 213.
NME:
Results for 100Mo and 82Se
693 days of data, Phase I + Phase II (data until spring 2006)
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
NEMO-3
100Mo
NEMO-3
82Se
T1/2 (2) = [ 7.11 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.54 (syst) ] 1018 y
(Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302)
T1/2 (0) > 5.8 × 1023 y (90% CL)
m < (0.8 – 1.3) eV [1–3]
T1/2 (2) = [ 7.11 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.54 (syst) ] 1018 y
(Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302)
T1/2 (0) > 5.8 × 1023 y (90% CL)
m < (0.8 – 1.3) eV [1–3]
T1/2 (2) = [ 9.6 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 1.0 (syst) ] 1019 y
(Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302)
T1/2 (0) > 2.1 × 1023 y (90% CL)
m < (1.4 – 2.2) eV [1–3]
T1/2 (2) = [ 9.6 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 1.0 (syst) ] 1019 y
(Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302)
T1/2 (0) > 2.1 × 1023 y (90% CL)
m < (1.4 – 2.2) eV [1–3]
0 decay search
expected sensitivities in 2010:100MoT1/2(0) > 2 × 1024 y (90 % CL)
m < (0.4 – 0.7) eV
82SeT1/2(0) > 8 × 1023 y (90 % CL)
m < (0.7 – 1.1) eV
Collaboration decided to perform blind analysisAnalysis is now under wayResults will be ready soonData acquisition with NEMO 3 until the end of 2010
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
[1] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 75 (2007) 051303(R). [2] M.Kortelainen and J.Suhonen, Phys.Rev. C 76 (2007) 024315. [3] V.A.Rodin et al., Nucl.Phys. A 793 (2007) 213.
NME:
From NEMO 3 to SuperNEMO
N90A
T1/2 (0) > ln 2 M Tobs NA A Nexcluded
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
7 kg 100 – 200 kg isotope mass M
8 % ~ 30 %
isotope 100Mo 150Nd or 82Se
NEMO 3 SuperNEMO
internal contamination 208Tl and 214Bi in the foil
A(208Tl): < 20 Bq/kg
A(214Bi): < 300 Bq/kg
A(208Tl) < 2 Bq/kg
if 82Se: A(214Bi) < 10 Bq/kg
T1/2(0) > 2 × 1024 y
m < (0.3 – 0.6) eV
T1/2(0) > 2 × 1026 y
m < (50 – 100) meV
energy resolution (FWHM) 8% @ 3 MeV 4% @ 3 MeV
efficiency
SuperNEMO Collaboration
~ 90 physicists, 12 countries, 27 laboratories
MoroccoFes U
United KingdomUCL
U ManchesterImperial College
FranceCEN Bordeaux
IPHC StrasbourgLAL ORSAYLPC Caen
LSCE Gif s/YvetteSpainU ValenciaU ZaragozaU Barcelona
USAMHCINL
(U Texas)Russia
JINR DubnaITEP Moscow
Kurchatov Institute
JapanU Saga
KEKU Osaka
Slovakia(U Bratislava)
UkraineINR Kiev
ISMA Kharkov
Czech RepublicCharles U Prague
CTU Prague
PolandU Warszawa
FinlandU Jyväskylä
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
SuperNEMO preliminary design
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
• Planar geometry
Source (40 mg/cm2) 12 m2 , tracking volume (~ 3000 channels) and calorimeter (~ 1000 PMT)
• Modular (~ 5 kg of enriched isotope/module)
100 kg: 20 modules ~ 60 000 channels for drift chamber ~ 20 000 PMT channels (3000 if bar design)
Top view5 m
1 m
Side view
4 m
February 2006 – July 2009
Approved in UK, France and Spain. Smaller but vital contributions from USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Japan.
Main tasks and deliverables:– R&D on critical components
• Calorimeter energy resolution of 4% at 3 MeV• Optimisation of tracking detector and construction (robot)• Better background rejection (e.g. extra veto counters)• Ultrapure source production and purity control • Simulations and geometry optimisation (B-field question)
– Technical Design Report– Experimental site selection (Modane, Canfranc, Gran Sasso)
SuperNEMO design study
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Choice of isotope
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Choice of nucleus depends on:
• enrichment possibilities
• high Q value
• phase space factor G0
• 2 half-life
• purification of 4 kg of 82Se underway (INL, USA)• enrichment of 150Nd possible in France
(MENPHIS facility at CEA – Atomic Vapour Laser
Isotope Separation)
= G M m22
T0
1
Two main options:
150Nd 82Se
Q (MeV) 3.367 2.995
G0 (y-1eV-2) 8×10-25 10-25
82Se obtained by centrifugation.Impossible for 150Nd, only laserenrichment.
Calorimeter R&D
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
• Energy resolution is a combination of energy losses in the foil and calorimeter E/E • Goal: FWHM 7%/E 4% at 3 MeV • Studies
– Material: organic (plastic or liquid)– Geometry and shape (block or bar)– Size– Reflective coating– PMTs (Photonis, Hamamatsu, ETL)
• High QE• Ultra-low background
Calorimeter R&D status
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
• Focus on large block studies (~ 20 cm, 8” PMT)• Four routes pursued
– 8” PMT + plastic block– 8” PMT + liquid scintillator– 8” PMT + hybrid (liquid + plastic) scintillator– 2 m scintillator bar with 3” or 5” PMTs
• PMTs– Working closely with manufacturers: Hamamatsu, Photonis, ETL– Real breakthrough in high-QE PMTs from Hamamatsu, Photonis: 43% QE from 3’’ PMTs, now working on 8’’– Deep involvement in ultra-low background PMT development (especially Photonis)
• 8% at 1 MeV achieved with 20 cm blocks, standard PMT (27% QE) and reflectors • Extrapolating the above improvements gives 7% but must be tested once all components are in hand• Plan B: 3”/5” high QE PMTs and larger number of channels• Decision on calorimeter design in December 2008
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
• Optimise operating parameters: – wire length and diameter– wire material, gas mixture – readout
• Several single cells, two 9-cell prototypes built and tested• 90-cell prototype is being built
9-cell prototype in Manchester
Tracker R&D
Drift cell working in Geiger mode (Geiger cell)■ Transverse position from electron drift times■ Longitudinal position from plasma propagation times
Tracker automated wiring
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
• About 500 000 wires to be strung, crimped, terminated• Wiring robot is being developed at Mullard Space Science Lab (UCL)
Pair of end fittings
Anode wire feed mechanism
Clamp mechanism
Radiopurity measurement
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Tracking(wire chamber)
Scintillator + PMT
Source foilto be measured
e–
Prompt e–, T0
Delayed T1/2 ~ 300 ns, Edeposited ~ 1 MeV
Radon + neutron + shield
• BiPo detector to measure contaminations of 208Tl and 214Bi in source foils before installation in SuperNEMO• Goal: ~ 5 kg of foil (12 m2 , 40 mg/cm2) in one month with a sensitivity of
A(208Tl) < 2 Bq/kg & A(214Bi) < 10 Bq/kg
Background < 1 event/month!
(164 s)
(300 ns)
232Th
212Bi(60.5 mn)
208Tl(3.1 mn)
212Po
208Pb(stable)3
6%
238U
214Bi(19.9 mn)
210Tl(1.3 mn)
214Po
210Pb22.3 y0.
021%
Bi-Po process
BiPo-1capsule
BiPo-1capsule
BiPo-1:18 capsules in operation in LSM Modane since February 2008current sensitivity A(208Tl) < 5 µBq/kg
BiPo-2 and Phoswhich:installed in LSM Modane and running since July 2008results expected by the end of 2008
BiPo-2
Set of BiPo-1 capsules
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Radiopurity measurement
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
NEMO 3 running
Running full detector in 2014
Target sensitivity (0.05 – 0.1 eV) in 2016
Construction of Construction of 20 modules 20 modules
SuperNEMO modules installation at new LSM
BiPoinstallation BiPo running @ Canfranc
1 – 5 SuperNEMO modules running at Canfranc
2014
SuperNEMO scheduleLadislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
BiPo1Canfranc/LSM
BiPo construction
Construction of 20 modules
Preparation of new LSM site
SuperNEMO 1st module construction
SuperNEMO design study
Summary
NEMO 3 Unique approach combining tracking and calorimetry 2 factory precise T1/2 measurement for 7 isotopes: new results for
48Ca, 96Zr, 130Te and 150Nd 0 of 100Mo & 82Se: blind analysis of Phase 2 data under way Data taking until the end of 2010 Ideal test bench for SuperNEMO
SuperNEMO 3 year design study addresses most critical issues: calorimeter resolution,
tracker optimisation, radio-purity Based on design study results full proposal for 100+ kg detector in 2009 Start-up in stages due to modular approach: first module by 2010/11, all 20
modules ~ 2013 Target sensitivity 50 – 100 meV by 2016
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Backup slides
Backup slides
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
isotope foils
scintillators
PMT
calibration tube
cathode rings (wire chamber) iron shielding
coil
water tank
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
1 ton of charcoal @ –50oC, 9 barsair flux = 150 m3/hInput: A(222Rn) 15 Bq/m3
Output: A(222Rn) < 15 mBq/m3 !!!reduction factor of 1000
Phase I : February 2003 – September 2004 (radon background in data)~ 1 0-like event/y/kg with 2.8 < E1+E2 < 3.2 MeV
Radon background for 0 searchis then negligible for Phase 2
Radon background for 0 searchis then negligible for Phase 2
Radon trapping facility
Inside the NEMO 3 tent: factor of 100 – 300
Inside NEMO 3: factor of 10A(222Rn) 2 mBq/m3
Phase II : since October 2004 (radon level reduced by a factor of 10)
(164 s)
238U
214Bi(19.9 mn)
210Tl(1.3 mn)
214Po
210Pb(22.3 y)0.
021%
Bi-Po process
0.015 Bq/m3
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
T1/2 = [ 7.11 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.54 (syst) ] 1018 y
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302
T1/2 = [ 7.11 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.54 (syst) ] 1018 y
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302
219 000 events6914 g
389 daysS/B = 40
cos(ee)
● Data
2 MCsimulation
Background subtracted
Angular distribution
● Data
2 MCsimulation
Background subtracted
219 000 events6914 g
389 daysS/B = 40
E1 + E2 (MeV)
Energy sum of the electrons
Phase I data (February 2003 – October 2004) with radon
2 decay of 100Mo
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Now we have 0.5M events and the result will be updated later this year
NEMO-3 NEMO-3
T1/2 = [ 9.6 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 1.0 (syst) ] 1019 y
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302
T1/2 = [ 9.6 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 1.0 (syst) ] 1019 y
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 182302
2750 events932 g
389 daysS/B = 4
● Data
2 MCsimulation
Background subtracted
E1 + E2 (MeV)
Phase I data (February 2003 – October 2004) with radon
2 decay of 82Se
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
NEMO-3
Energy sum of the electrons
External background 208Tl (PMTs) Measured with (e) external events~ 10-3 0-like events y-1·kg -1 with 2.8<E1+ E2<3.2 MeV
~ 0.1 0-like events y-1·kg -1 with 2.8<E1+ E2<3.2 MeV
208Tl impurities inside the foils Measured with (e2), (e3) events coming from the foil
External neutrons and high energy ’s Measured with (ee)int events with E1+E2 > 4 MeV
0.02 0-like events y-1·kg -1 with 2.8<E1+ E2<3.2 MeV
NEMO 3 can measure each component of its background!
100Mo 2 decay T1/2 = 7.1 × 1018 y ~ 0.3 0-like events y-1·kg -1 with 2.8<E1+ E2<3.2 MeV
Background measurement in NEMO 3
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Future extension of LSM Modane lab
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Main HallMain Hall40 × 15 m (h=11 m)
RAILWAY TUNNEL
ROAD TUNNEL Ultra-Low
backgroundFacility
15 × 10 m (h=8 m)
Old Laboratory20 × 5 m (h=4.5 m)
installations, clean rooms
& offices
Access gallery
Characteristic of the
new LSC
Depth 900 m (2450 mwe)
Main experimental hall
600 m2 (oriented to CERN)
Low background lab
150 m2
Clean room 45 m2 (100/1000 type)
General services
135 m2
Offices 80 m2
- BiPo- SuperNEMO- Dark matter- …
New LSC Canfranc laboratory
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
150Nd laser enrichment
Vaporised isotope mixture
Laser beam
Enriched Ucollecting plate
Depleted U collecting plate
AVLIS: Atomic Vapour Laser Isotope Separation
Selective photo-ionisation: based on isotope shifts in the atomic absorption optical spectraU + 3 selective photons → 235U+ + e–
• 150Nd enrichment is technically possible• MENPHIS facility (CEA/Pierrelatte - France)
Ladislav Vála, Results of NEMO 3 and status of SuperNEMO, NOW 2008, 9th September 2008
200+ kg of 2.5% enriched Uranium produced MENPHIS
AVLIS facility
• Facility stopped in 2003• Principal agreement by CEA to suspend closure/dismantling• 150Nd enrichment collaboration formed. SuperNEMO and SNO++ plus other
interested parties• Phased approach
– Feasibility studies for high degree enrichment (> 50%)– ~ kg production and tests– 100+ kg production