Investigation of $\beta\beta$ decay in $^{150}$Nd and $^{148}$Nd to the excited states of daughter nuclei

TL;DR

This study measures the half-life of double beta decay in $^{150}$Nd to excited states, providing new experimental limits for various decay modes and contributing to understanding neutrino properties.

Contribution

First measurement of $^{150}$Nd double beta decay to excited states using a low-background detector, establishing new half-life values and decay mode limits.

Findings

Half-life for $^{150}$Nd to excited $0^+_1$ state is approximately 1.33 x 10^{20} years.

Limits for other decay modes in $^{150}$Nd are around 2-8 x 10^{20} years.

Limits for $^{148}$Nd decay modes are approximately 4-8 x 10^{20} years.

Abstract

Double beta decay of $^{150}$Nd and $^{148}$Nd to the excited states of daughter nuclei have been studied using a 400 cm$^3$ low-background HPGe detector and an external source consisting of 3046 g of natural Nd$_2$O$_3$ powder. The half-life for the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{150}$Nd to the excited 0$^+_1$ state in $^{150}$Sm is measured to be $T_{1/2}=[1.33^{+0.36}_{-0.23}(stat)^{+0.27}_{-0.13}(syst)]\cdot 10^{20}$ y. For other $(0\nu + 2\nu)$ transitions to the 2$^+_1$, 2$^+_2$, 2$^+_3$, and 0$^+_2$ levels in $^{150}$Sm, limits are obtained at the level of $\sim (2-8)\cdot 10^{20}$ y. In the case of $^{148}$Nd only limits for the $(0\nu + 2\nu)$ transitions to the 2$^+_1$, 0$^+_1$, and 2$^+_2$ excited states in $^{148}$Sm were obtained and are at the level of \sim (4-8)\cdot 10^{20}$ y.