25 research outputs found
On the possibility to search for double beta decay of initially unstable (alpha/beta radioactive) nuclei
Possibilities to search for double beta decay of alpha/beta unstable nuclei,
many of which have higher energy release than "conventional" (beta stable)
double beta decay candidates, are discussed. First experimental half-life
limits on double beta decay of radioactive nuclides from U and Th families
(trace contaminants of the CaWO_4, CdWO_4 and Gd_2SiO_5 scintillators) were
established by reanalyzing the data of low-background measurements in the
Solotvina Underground Laboratory with these detectors (1734 h with CaWO_4,
13316 h with CdWO_4, and 13949 h with Gd_2SiO_5 crystals).Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
High sensitivity double beta decay study of 116-Cd and 100-Mo with the BOREXINO Counting Test Facility (CAMEO project)
The unique features (super-low background and large sensitive volume) of the
CTF and BOREXINO set ups are used in the CAMEO project for a high sensitivity
study of 100-Mo and 116-Cd neutrinoless double beta decay. Pilot measurements
with 116-Cd and Monte Carlo simulations show that the sensitivity of the CAMEO
experiment (in terms of the half-life limit for neutrinoless double beta decay)
is (3-5) 10^24 yr with a 1 kg source of 100-Mo (116-Cd, 82-Se, and 150-Nd) and
about 10^26 yr with 65 kg of enriched 116-CdWO_4 crystals placed in the liquid
scintillator of the CTF. The last value corresponds to a limit on the neutrino
mass of less than 0.06 eV. Similarly with 1000 kg of 116-CdWO_4 crystals
located in the BOREXINO apparatus the neutrino mass limit can be pushed down to
m_nu<0.02 eV.Comment: 29 pages, LaTex, 9 eps figure
New limits on di-nucleons decay into invisible channels
Data of the radiochemical experiment [E.L.Fireman, 1978] with 1.7 t of
KC_2H_3O_2, accumulated deep underground during ~1 yr, were reanalyzed to set
limits on di-nucleons (nn and np) decays into invisible channels
(disappearance, decay into neutrinos, etc.). The obtained lifetime bounds
tau_np > 2.1 10^25 yr and tau_nn > 4.2 10^25 yr (at 90% C.L.) are better (or
competitive) than those established in the recent experiments.Comment: 3 pages, accepted in JETP Letter
The event generator DECAY4 for simulation of double beta processes and decay of radioactive nuclei
The computer code DECAY4 is developed to generate initial energy, time and
angular distributions of particles emitted in radioactive decays of nuclides
and nuclear (atomic) deexcitations. Data for description of nuclear and atomic
decay schemes are taken from the ENSDF and EADL database libraries. The
examples of use of the DECAY4 code in several underground experiments are
described.Comment: 8 pages, 1 fi
Investigation of β + β + and β + /EC decay of 106 Cd
A low background scintillation detector with a CdWO4 crystal of 1.046 kg was used to search for β+β+ and β+/EC processes in 106Cd. For the neutrinoless mode the limits T1/2(0νβ+β+) ≥ 2.2 · 1019 y and T1/2(0νβ+/EC) ≥ 5.5 · 1019 y were obtained with 90% C.L. For the possible two neutrino decay limits of T1/2(2νβ+β+) ≥ 9.2 · 1017 y and 1/2(2νβ+/EC) ≥ 2.6 · 1017 y have been determined with 99% C.L
The Majorana neutrino masses, neutrinoless double beta decay and nuclear matrix elements
The effective Majorana neutrino mass is evaluated by using the latest results
of neutrino oscillation experiments. The problems of the neutrino mass
spectrum,absolute mass scale of neutrinos and the effect of CP phases are
addressed. A connection to the next generation of the neutrinoless double beta
decay (0nbb-decay) experiments is discussed. The calculations are performed for
76Ge, 100Mo, 136Xe and 130Te by using the advantage of recently evaluated
nuclear matrix elements with significantly reduced theoretical uncertainty. An
importance of observation of the 0nbb-decay of several nuclei is stressed.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures, EXO (10 t) experiment considere
High sensitivity GEM experiment on double beta decay of 76-Ge
The GEM project is designed for the next generation 2 beta decay experiments
with 76-Ge. One ton of ''naked'' HP Ge detectors (natural at the first GEM-I
phase and enriched in 76-Ge to 86% at the second GEM-II stage) are operating in
super-high purity liquid nitrogen contained in the Cu vacuum cryostat (sphere
with diameter 5 m). The latest is placed in the water shield. Monte Carlo
simulation evidently shows that sensitivity of the experiment (in terms of the
T1/2 limit for neutrinoless 2 beta decay) is 10^27 yr with natural HP Ge
crystals and 10^28 yr with enriched ones. These bounds corresponds to the
restrictions on the neutrino mass less than 0.05 eV and 0.015 eV with natural
and enriched detectors, respectively. Besides, the GEM-I set up could advance
the current best limits on the existence of neutralinos - as dark matter
candidates - by three order of magnitudes, and at the same time would be able
to identify unambiguously the dark matter signal by detection of its seasonal
modulation.Comment: LaTeX, 20 pages, 4 figure
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay within QRPA with Proton-Neutron Pairing
We have investigated the role of proton-neutron pairing in the context of the
Quasiparticle Random Phase approximation formalism. This way the neutrinoless
double beta decay matrix elements of the experimentally interesting A= 48, 76,
82, 96, 100, 116, 128, 130 and 136 systems have been calculated. We have found
that the inclusion of proton-neutron pairing influences the neutrinoless double
beta decay rates significantly, in all cases allowing for larger values of the
expectation value of light neutrino masses. Using the best presently available
experimental limits on the half life-time of neutrinoless double beta decay we
have extracted the limits on lepton number violating parameters.Comment: 16 RevTex page
Double Beta Decay
We review recent developments in double-beta decay, focusing on what can be
learned about the three light neutrinos in future experiments. We examine the
effects of uncertainties in already measured neutrino parameters and in
calculated nuclear matrix elements on the interpretation of upcoming
double-beta decay measurements. We then review a number of proposed
experiments.Comment: Some typos corrected, references corrected and added. A less blurry
version of figure 3 is available from authors. 41 pages, 5 figures, submitted
to J. Phys.
New results of 116Cd double beta decay study with 116CdWO4 scintillators
A new phase of 116Cd double beta decay experiment is in progress in the
Solotvina Underground Laboratory. Four enriched 116CdWO4 scintillators with
total mass 339 g are used in a set up, whose active shield is made of 15
natural CdWO4 crystals (20.6 kg). The background rate in the energy interval
2.5-3.2 MeV is 0.03 counts/y*kg*keV. The half-life for 2-neutrino 2-beta decay
of 116Cd is measured as T{1/2}(2-neutrino) =
[2.6+-0.1(stat)-0.4+0.7}(syst)]*10**19 y. The T{1/2} limits for neutrinoless
2-beta decay of 116Cd are set as T{1/2} >= 0.7(2.5)*10**23 y at 90%(68%) C.L.
for transition to ground state of 116Sn, while for decays to the first 2+ and
second 0+ excited levels of 116Sn as T{1/2}>=1.3(4.8)*10**22 y and
>=0.7(2.4)*10**22 y with 90%(68%) C.L., respectively. For 0-neutrino 2-beta
decay with emission of one or two Majorons, the limits are T{1/2}(0-neutrino
M1) >=3.7(5.8)*10**21 y and T{1/2}(0-neutrino M2)>=5.9(9.4)*10**20 y at
90%(68%) C.L. Restrictions on the value of the neutrino mass, right-handed
admixtures in the weak interaction, and the neutrino-Majoron coupling constant
are derived as: m(neutrino)<=2.6(1.4) eV, eta <=3.9*10**-8, lambda
<=3.4*10**-6, and g{M}<= 12(9.5)*10**-5 at 90%(68%) C.L., respectively.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures (LaTeX). Phys. Rev. C (in press