A tin-loaded liquid scintillator approach for the 2 neutrino double-beta decay measurement of Sn-124

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel tin-loaded liquid scintillator experiment to measure the 2-neutrino double-beta decay half-life of Sn-124, demonstrating feasibility and potential to reach predicted half-lives of 10^22 years.

Contribution

It introduces a new scintillator-based method for measuring Sn-124 decay, including stability, optical properties, and background estimation, advancing experimental capabilities in neutrino physics.

Findings

Scintillator stability and optical properties are suitable for long-term measurements.

Background from cosmic ray spallation can be effectively estimated.

Measurement can reach half-lives of 10^22 years, covering theoretical predictions.

Abstract

A new experiment based on tin-loaded scintillator is proposed to measure the 2nu double beta decay half-life of Sn-124 for the first time. Measurements of long term stabilitiy and optical properties of the produced scintillator are presented. In addition a sophisticated estimation of the background due to cosmic ray spallation on tin has been performed. It is shown that such a measurement is feasible and can reach half-lives of 10^22 years, thus covering all current theoretical predictions for this decay mode.