Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

The recent results showing the presence of neutrino oscillations clearly indicate that the difference between the squared mass of neutrinos of different flavors is different from zero, but are unable to determine the nature and the absolute value of the neutrino mass. Neutrinoless double beta decay (DBD) is at present the most powerful tool to ascertain if the neutrino is a Majorana particle and to determine under this condition the absolute value of its mass. The results already obtained in this lepton violating process will be reported and the two presently running DBD experiments briefly discussed. The future second generation experiments will be reviewed with special emphasis to those already partially approved. In conclusion the peculiar and interdisciplinary nature of these searches will be stressed in their exciting aim to discover if neutrino is Dirac or Majorana particle

Nuclear energy and Anthropocene

n/

Correction to: Sant'Imbenia (Alghero): further archaeometric evidence for an Iron Age market square

n/

Sant'Imbenia (Alghero): further archaeometric evidence for an Iron Age market square

AbstractLead isotope compositions were determined for 18 metal objects from the archaeological site of Sant'Imbenia, NW Sardinia, dating to the end of the ninth century BCE onwards. The provenance of some objects is unambiguously traced to SW Sardinia; other objects could derive either from central Sardinia or the Iberian coastal ranges. The variety of the provenances attests to a wide trade network that spanned the entire island of Sardinia and extended to the Iberian sites

Muonic atom X-ray spectroscopy for non-destructive analysis of archeological samples

The implementation in the RIKEN-RAL negative muons facility of a new muon beamline monitoring and novel digital data acquisition system for gamma and X-ray spectroscopy are presented. This work also shows the high potential of the muonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy technique in non-destructive elemental characterization of archaeological samples

How to improve the sensitivity of future neutrino mass experiments with thermal calorimeters

Abstract In this paper we discuss the perspectives for a new generation of neutrino mass experiments using thermal detectors to reach interesting sensitivities before and after the KATRIN experiment. By scaling the performance of the present Milano neutrino mass experiment with Monte Carlo simulations, we show how a new experiment can validate the present limit of few eV set by spectrometers before the KATRIN experiment starts. We also show how such a result can be used to design a very large thermal detector experiment to reach sensitivities beyond the KATRIN expected one

Gamma ray spectroscopy with high-Z thermal detectors

Abstract A massive thermal detector to be used to search for rare decays and to detect high-energy γ-rays has been operated both at sea level and underground. It consists of a 20.9 g monocrystal of TeO 2 whose temperature is measured by means of a neutron transmutation doped thermistor. The detector was first operated in Milano at a base bolometer temperature of 22.5 mK and with a FWHM resolution of 90 keV, rather independent of the γ-ray energy. Much better results have been obtained when the detector was operated underground, under a suitable shielding against local radioactivity and inside a Faraday cage. The base bolometer temperature could be as low as 14.5 mK which, together with the elimination of pile-up, allowed to achieve FWHM resolutions of 1% for γ-rays above 2.0 MeV. The increase in the base temperature of the bolometer when exposed to a weak radioactive source is discussed in view of possible applications in the search for dark matter

A search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te with a thermal detector

Abstract A 73.1 g TeO2 bolometric detector has been operating for more than two months at about 16 mK in a specially constructed low activity dilution refrigerator installed in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory and shielded against environmental radioactivity. Its energy resolution is comparable with that of a Ge diode. A spectrum of the thermal pulses collected in 1389 h of effective running time shows no evidence for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te. The corresponding lower limit of the lifetime is three orders of magnitude more stringent than those obtained for the some nucleus with conventional techniques. It also exceeds the value for the inclusive (two neutrino and neutrinoless) lifetime obtained by geochemical searches. Double beta decay of 130Te has therefore to be attributed mainly to the two neutrino channel

Large calorimetric devices for double beta decay and dark matter

Abstract The use of cryogenic thermal particle detectors permits the realization of detectors of various compositions, various sizes and very good energy resolution. In particular these characteristics are very promising for the realization of double beta decay and dark matter search experiments. Our group is mainly interested in the study of double beta decay of 130Te and 116Cd. For tellurium we have realized various detectors using TeO2 crystals, the final one with a mass of 334 g. For cadmium a CdWO4 crystal of 58 g has been used in various tests. The double beta decay measurement has been performed in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory. Measurements on the 334 g TeO2 crystal have been performed for 3000 h. Detector resolution is around 10 keV FWHM and the internal contamination of 238U and 232Th in the crystal is of the order of 10−13 g/g. A lower limit on the half-life of neutrinoless double beta decay for 130Te of 8.2 × 1021 yr (90% CL) is measured. The test measurements of CdWO4 reach an energy resolution of about 5 keV FWHM with a very high efficiency to gamma ray detection. A limit on the neutrinoless channel of 7 × 1019 yr (90% CL) is evaluated in 340 h. In this test an end point energy of 318.8 ± 1.4 ± 5 keV and a half-life of (9.3 ± 0.5 ± 1) × 1015 yr for the beta decay of 113Cd are also measured. The last part of the paper is dedicated to a brief discussion of our proposal for the solar neutrino flux measurement and for the search of dark matter using cryogenic detectors

Large mass, low temperature, low background detectors

Abstract Bolometric detectors can be realized with a wide range of materials, and large mass. Some aspects regarding the energy resolution of large bolometers are analyzed. Preliminary experimental results on neutrinoless ββ decay of tellurium, obtained with this technique, are shown