Status and prospects of the NEXT-100 experiment and the search of $0\nu\beta\beta$ events

by Helena Almazán

Thursday 13 Mar 2025, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/London

The NEXT collaboration aims to discover neutrinoless double beta decays in Xe-136 using a high-pressure gas time projection chamber (HPGTPC). This cutting-edge technology leverages the remarkable energy resolution (FWHM <1%) and topological event classification capabilities of electroluminescent HPGTPCs. Building on the success of its predecessor, NEXT-White, the NEXT-100 detector was successfully constructed and assembled in 2023 and it is currently taking Xenon data. The detector, holding approximately up to 80 kg of Xenon at 15 bar, boasts a projected sensitivity of $6 \times 10^{25}$ years after three effective years of data acquisition.
In this presentation, we will highlight the unique advantages of HPGTPCs, provide a detailed overview of the NEXT-100 detector, and discuss its scientific objectives. We will also share the latest updates on the experiment's status, including commissioning outcomes. Looking ahead, we will explore the future goals of the NEXT collaboration, including plans for a ton-scale NEXT detector capable of achieving a half-life sensitivity exceeding $10^{27}$ years within five years of operation.