# The neutron background of the XENON100 dark matter experiment

XENON Collaboration (2013). The neutron background of the XENON100 dark matter experiment. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 40:115201.

## Abstract

The XENON100 experiment, installed underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, aims to directly detect dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) via their elastic scattering off xenon nuclei. This paper presents a study on the nuclear recoil background of the experiment, taking into account neutron backgrounds from (α, n) reactions and spontaneous fission due to natural radioactivity in the detector and shield materials, as well as muon-induced neutrons. Based on Monte Carlo simulations and using measured radioactive contaminations of all detector components, we predict the nuclear recoil backgrounds for the WIMP search results published by the XENON100 experiment in 2011 and 2012, 0.11$^{+0.08}_{-0.04}$ events and 0.17$^{+0.12}_{-0.07}$ events, respectively, and conclude that they do not limit the sensitivity of the experiment.

## Abstract

The XENON100 experiment, installed underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, aims to directly detect dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) via their elastic scattering off xenon nuclei. This paper presents a study on the nuclear recoil background of the experiment, taking into account neutron backgrounds from (α, n) reactions and spontaneous fission due to natural radioactivity in the detector and shield materials, as well as muon-induced neutrons. Based on Monte Carlo simulations and using measured radioactive contaminations of all detector components, we predict the nuclear recoil backgrounds for the WIMP search results published by the XENON100 experiment in 2011 and 2012, 0.11$^{+0.08}_{-0.04}$ events and 0.17$^{+0.12}_{-0.07}$ events, respectively, and conclude that they do not limit the sensitivity of the experiment.

## Citations

8 citations in Web of Science®
7 citations in Scopus®

## Altmetrics

Detailed statistics

Item Type: Journal Article, refereed, original work 07 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute 530 Physics English 2013 05 Feb 2014 12:29 05 Apr 2016 17:28 IOP Publishing 0954-3899 Publisher DOI. An embargo period may apply. https://doi.org/10.1088/0954-3899/40/11/115201