First investigation of $^{96}$Zr samples enriched by the gas-centrifuge method for the use in rare-decay studies

TL;DR

This study reports the first gas-centrifuge enrichment of $^{96}$Zr and evaluates its suitability for rare-decay experiments, setting new limits on its double beta decay half-life.

Contribution

First production of enriched $^{96}$Zr via gas-centrifuge and assessment of its purity for rare-decay research.

Findings

Enrichment of $^{96}$Zr achieved at 88.28%.

Radionuclide impurity levels suitable for rare-event searches.

Established a new lower limit on $^{96}$Zr double beta decay half-life.

Abstract

For the first time, the isotope $^{96}$Zr has been produced by the gas-centrifuge method (enrichment is 88.28% and full mass of $^{96}$Zr is 179.816 g). The level of radionuclide impurities of the samples and thus their suitability for rare-event search have been investigated using three low-background HPGe detectors. The most stringent limit, obtained at sea level, on the half-life of the double beta decay of $^{96}$Zr to the $0^+_1$ excited state (1148 keV) of $^{96}$Mo has been set $T_{1/2}(0\nu+2\nu)>3.9 \times 10^{19}$ yr (90% C.L.).