Limit on Neutrinoless {\beta}{\beta} Decay of Xe-136 from the First Phase of KamLAND-Zen and Comparison with the Positive Claim in Ge-76

TL;DR

This paper reports a new lower limit on the neutrinoless double-beta decay half-life of Xe-136, constrains the Majorana neutrino mass, and challenges a previous positive claim in Ge-76, advancing understanding of neutrino properties.

Contribution

First phase results of KamLAND-Zen providing improved limits on neutrinoless double-beta decay and comparison with prior positive claims in Ge-76.

Findings

Lower limit for Xe-136 decay half-life: >1.9 x 10^{25} yr

Combined limit with EXO-200: >3.4 x 10^{25} yr

Excludes the positive Ge-76 claim at >97.5% C.L.

Abstract

We present results from the first phase of the KamLAND-Zen double-beta decay experiment, corresponding to an exposure of 89.5 kg yr of Xe-136. We obtain a lower limit for the neutrinoless double-beta decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0{\nu}} > 1.9 x 10^{25} yr at 90% C.L. The combined results from KamLAND-Zen and EXO-200 give T_{1/2}^{0{\nu}} > 3.4 x 10^{25} yr at 90% C.L., which corresponds to a Majorana neutrino mass limit of <m_{{\beta}{\beta}}> < (120-250) meV based on a representative range of available matrix element calculations. Using those calculations, this result excludes the Majorana neutrino mass range expected from the neutrinoless double-beta decay detection claim in Ge-76, reported by a part of the Heidelberg-Moscow Collaboration, at more than 97.5% C.L.