Searching for Beyond the Standard Model physics using the improved description of $^{100}$Mo $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay spectral shape with CUPID-Mo

TL;DR

This paper improves the spectral shape modeling of $^{100}$Mo double-beta decay in CUPID-Mo, enabling more sensitive searches for Beyond Standard Model physics through analysis of spectral distortions.

Contribution

It introduces an improved spectral shape model for $^{100}$Mo $2 uetaeta$ decay and assesses its impact on BSM physics searches in CUPID-Mo.

Findings

Set new limits on $0 uetaeta$ decay with Majoron emission.

Analyzed the systematic uncertainty from spectral shape modeling.

Motivated future BSM searches in the CUPID experiment.

Abstract

The current experiments searching for neutrinoless double-$\beta$ ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay also collect large statistics of Standard Model allowed two-neutrino double-$\beta$ ($2\nu\beta\beta$) decay events. These can be used to search for Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics via $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay spectral distortions. $^{100}$Mo has a natural advantage due to its relatively short half-life, allowing higher $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay statistics at equal exposures compared to the other isotopes. We demonstrate the potential of the dual read-out bolometric technique exploiting a $^{100}$Mo exposure of 1.47 kg $\times$ y, acquired in the CUPID-Mo experiment at the Modane underground laboratory (France). We set limits on $0\nu\beta\beta$ decays with the emission of one or more Majorons, on $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay with Lorentz violation, and $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay with a sterile neutrino emission. In this analysis, we investigate the systematic uncertainty induced by modeling the $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay spectral shape parameterized through an improved model, an effect never considered before. This work motivates searches for BSM processes in the upcoming CUPID experiment, which will collect the largest amount of $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay events among the next-generation experiments.