Experimental research of double beta decay of atomic nuclei

TL;DR

This paper reports experimental results from double beta decay searches using low-background crystal scintillators, setting new half-life limits, analyzing claims, and discussing future high-sensitivity experiments and scintillator applications.

Contribution

It provides new experimental half-life limits for multiple isotopes, analyzes previous claims, and discusses future experimental designs and scintillator materials for double beta decay detection.

Findings

Measured half-life of 2-neutrino double beta decay of 116-Cd as 2.9×10^{19} yr.

Established new half-life limit for neutrinoless double beta decay of 116-Cd as >1.7×10^{23} yr.

Set bounds on double beta processes in various isotopes using crystal scintillators.

Abstract

Results of several double beta decay experiments, performed with the help of low background crystal scintillators, are presented. In particular, the half-life value of the two-neutrino double beta decay of 116-Cd has been measured as 2.9 10^{19} yr, and the new half-life limit on the neutrinoless double beta decay of 116-Cd has been established as >1.7 10^{23} yr at 90%, which corresponds to a restriction on the neutrino mass <1.7 eV. New half-life bounds on the level of 10^{17}-10^{21} yr were set for double beta processes in 64-Zn, 70-Zn, 106-Cd, 108-Cd, 114-Cd, 136-Ce, 138-Ce, 142-Ce, 160-Gd, 180-W, and 186-W by using low-background CdWO4, GSO, and ZnWO4 crystal scintillators. The claim of discovery of the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76-Ge [Mod. Phys. Lett. A 16 (2001) 2409] was analyzed. The demands of the future high sensitivity double beta decay experiments, aiming to observe the neutrinoless double beta decay or to advance restrictions on the neutrino mass to < 0.01 eV, were considered. Requirements for their sensitivity and discovery potential were formulated. Two projects of double beta experiments with a sensitivity on the level of 10^{26}-10^{27} yr (CAMEO and CARVEL projects) were discussed. Scintillation properties and radioactive contamination of CaWO4, ZnWO4, CdWO4, PbWO4, GSO(Ce), CeF3, yttrium-aluminum garnet doped with neodymium (YAG:Nd) crystal scintillators were studied. Applicability of these scintillators to search for double beta decay was discussed.