Combining Hybrid and Opaque Scintillator Techniques in the Search for Double Beta Plus Decays

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel detector design combining hybrid and opaque scintillator technologies to improve the detection of double beta plus decay, aiming to observe rare decay modes with significantly enhanced sensitivity.

Contribution

It presents the first integration of hybrid and opaque scintillator techniques with new light read-out methods for double beta plus decay detection.

Findings

Potential to discover two-neutrino double beta plus decay within 1 tonne-week exposure

Ability to probe neutrinoless double beta plus decays at much higher significance than current limits

Proposes a detector concept addressing experimental challenges in rare decay detection

Abstract

Double beta plus decay is a rare nuclear disintegration process. Difficulties in its measurement arise from suppressed decay probabilities, experimentally challenging decay signatures and low natural abundances of suitable candidate nuclei. In this article, we propose a new detector concept to overcome these challenges. It is based on the first-time combination of hybrid and opaque scintillation detector technology paired with novel light read-out techniques. This approach is particularly suitable detecting positron (beta plus) signatures. We expect to discover two-neutrino double beta plus decay modes within 1 tonne-week exposure and are able to probe neutrinoless double beta plus decays at several orders of magnitude improved significance compared to current experimental limits.