Potential of a next generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiment based on ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers for next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiments, aiming to achieve ultra-low background and sensitivity to the inverted hierarchy neutrino mass region.

Contribution

It introduces a novel detector technology using ZnMoO4 bolometers and evaluates its performance and sensitivity for future neutrinoless double beta decay searches.

Findings

Pilot detector shows promising energy resolution and background control.

The proposed method could reach sensitivities to the inverted hierarchy region.

A phased approach for future experiments is outlined.

Abstract

The search for neutrinoless double beta decay probes lepton number conservation with high sensitivity and investigates the neutrino nature and mass scale. Experiments presently in preparation will cover the quasi-degeneracy region of the neutrino mass pattern. Probing the so-called inverted hierarchy region requires improved sensitivities and next-generation experiments, based either on large expansions of the present searches or on new ideas. We examine here the potential of a novel technology relying on ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers, which can provide an experiment with background close to zero in the ton x year exposure scale. The promising performance of a pilot detector is presented, both in terms of energy resolution and background control. A preliminary study of the sensitivities of future experiments shows that the inverted hierarchy region is within the reach of the technique here proposed. A realistic phased approach program towards a next-generation search is presented and briefly discussed.