The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is one of the highest priority areas in particle physics today; it could provide insights to the nature of neutrino masses (currently not explained by the Standard Model) as well as how the universe survived its early stages. One promising experimental approach involves the use of large volumes of isotope-loaded liquid scintillator, but new techniques for background identification and suppression must be developed in order to reach the required sensitivity levels and clearly distinguish the signal. The results from this thesis constitute a significant advance in this area, laying the groundwork for several highly effective and novel approaches based on a detailed evaluation of state-of-the-art detector characteristics. This well written thesis includes a particularly clear and comprehensive description of the theoretical motivations as well as impressively demonstrating the effective use of diverse statistical techniques. The professionally constructed signal extraction framework contains clever algorithmic solutions to efficient error propagation in multi-dimensional space. In general, the techniques developed in this work will have a notable impact on the field.

This second open access volume of the handbook series deals with detectors, large experimental facilities and data handling, both for accelerator and non-accelerator based experiments. It also covers applications in medicine and life sciences. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the "Particle Physics Reference Library" provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A, B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access

This book describes the fundamentals of particle detectors as well as their applications. Detector development is an important part of nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics, and through its applications in radiation imaging, it paves the way for advancements in the biomedical and materials sciences. Knowledge in detector physics is one of the required skills of an experimental physicist in these fields. The breadth of knowledge required for detector development comprises many areas of physics and technology, starting from interactions of particles with matter, gas- and solid-state physics, over charge transport and signal development, to elements of microelectronics. The book's aim is to describe the fundamentals of detectors and their different variants and implementations as clearly as possible and as deeply as needed for a thorough understanding. While this comprehensive opus contains all the materials taught in experimental particle physics lectures or modules addressing detector physics at the Master's level, it also goes well beyond these basic requirements. This is an essential text for students who want to deepen their knowledge in this field. It is also a highly useful guide for lecturers and scientists looking for a starting point for detector development work.

"Photomultipliers are extremely sensitive light detectors with the capability to detect single photons. In multiplying the charge produced by incident light by up to 100 million times, these devices are essential to a wide range of applications, from medical instrumentation to astronomical observations. This complete and authoritative guide will provide...a deeper understanding of the operating principles of these devices." -- Publisher's description, back cover.

Physics and Applications of Secondary Electron Emission provides a survey of the physics and applications of secondary electron emission. It is part of a series of monographs that aim to report on research carried out in electronics and applied physics. The monographs are written by specialists in their own subjects. Wherever it is practical the monographs will be kept short in length to enable all those interested in electronics to find the essentials necessary for their work in a condensed and concentrated form. The book begins with a discussion of secondary electrons. Separate chapters cover methods for measuring secondary electron emission; numerical results on the secondary electron emission yield of both metals and metal compounds; the influence of externally adsorbed foreign atoms and ions on secondary electron emission; and the mechanism of secondary electron emission. The final three chapters deal with the application side. These include the applications of electron multiplication; the elimination of disturbing effects due to secondary electrons; and ""storage"" devices in which information on electrical charges is written on an insulating surface, often by making use of secondary electron emission.

The handbook centers on detection techniques in the field of particle physics, medical imaging and related subjects. It is structured into three parts. The first one is dealing with basic ideas of particle detectors, followed by applications of these devices in high energy physics and other fields. In the last part the large field of medical imaging using similar detection techniques is described. The different chapters of the book are written by world experts in their field. Clear instructions on the detection techniques and principles in terms of relevant operation parameters for scientists and graduate students are given.Detailed tables and diagrams will make this a very useful handbook for the application of these techniques in many different fields like physics, medicine, biology and other areas of natural science.

This text provides a comprehensive introduction to the physical principles and design of particle detectors, covering all major detector types in use today. Emphasis is placed on explaining the physical principles behind particle detection, showing how those principles are best utilised in real detectors. The book will be of interest and value to undergraduates, graduates and researchers in both particle and nuclear physics. Exercises and detailed further reading lists are included.

Experimental Techniques in High-Energy Nuclear and Particle Physics is a compilation of outstanding technical papers and reviews of the ingenious methods developed for experimentation in modern nuclear and particle physics. This book, a second edition, provides a balanced view of the major tools and technical concepts currently in use, and elucidates the basic principles that underly the detection devices. Several of the articles in this volume have never been published, or have appeared in relatively inaccessible journals. Although the emphasis is on charged-particle tracking and calorimetry, general reviews of ionization detectors and Monte Carlo techniques are also included.This book serves as a compact source of reference for graduate students and experimenters in the fields of nuclear and particle physics, seeking information on some of the major ideas and techniques developed for modern experiments in these fields.

This authoritative text provides a lively, thought-provoking and informative summary of neutrino astrophysics. Neutrino astronomy is being revolutionized by the availability of new observational facilities. Theoretical work in astrophysics and in particle physics in increasing rapidly. The subject of solar neutrinos has many seemingly independent aspects, both in its theoretical basis (involving nuclear, atomic, and particle physics, geochemistry, and astronomy). For many physicists, solar neutrinos constitute the low-energy frontier of high-energy physics. Results from all these disciplines are combined here, providing a timely and unified discussion of the field. Each chapter begins with a succinct overview of material to be presented and ends with an annotated bibliography. For advanced undergraduate students, but will be essential reading for all researchers interested in the physics of neutrinos and what they reveal about the nature of the Universe.