Enabling devices for sensors to detect neutrinoless double beta decay at nexo

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science awarded a $199,917 Project Grant (CFDA 81.049) to Mainstream Engineering Corp in Rockledge, Florida on February 12, 2024. The grant supports the development of high-purity, ultra-low-radioactivity capacitors for use in cryogenic detectors for fundamental physics experiments, specifically the NEXO collaboration's search for neutrinoless double beta decay. The capacitors are required to operate the application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in the NEXO liquid xenon time projection chamber detector, with stringent requirements for size, radiopurity, and compatibility with liquid xenon at cryogenic temperatures. This work could also have applications in quantum computing where cryogenic environments are used. Additionally, Mainstream Engineering was awarded a $199,917 sub-grant from the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to contribute to this project.