Flux growth at 1230 °C of cubic Tb2O3 single crystals and characterization of their optical and magnetic properties
International audience; In this work, we present the first crystal growth of cubic Tb2O3 single crystals by a controlled atmosphere flux method which uses a heavy metal free solvent working at less than half the melting temperature of this sesquioxide. Cubic millimeter-sized crystals extracted from as-grown boules are phase (powder XRD) and chemically (GDMS) pure and exhibit a Verdet constant in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges, which is at least three times higher than that of a commercial Tb3Ga5O12 (TGG) crystal. The 1.36 mm thick crystals display a transmission coefficient higher than 77% over the 525 nm–1.38 μm spectral range. The absorption spectrum, magnetic susceptibilit…
Precise measurement of $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay of $^{100}$Mo with the CUPID-Mo detection technology
We report the measurement of the two-neutrino double-beta ($2\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{100}$Mo to the ground state of $^{100}$Ru using lithium molybdate (\crystal) scintillating bolometers. The detectors were developed for the CUPID-Mo program and operated at the EDELWEISS-III low background facility in the Modane underground laboratory. From a total exposure of $42.235$ kg$\times$d, the half-life of $^{100}$Mo is determined to be $T_{1/2}^{2\nu}=[7.12^{+0.18}_{-0.14}\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.10\,\mathrm{(syst.)}]\times10^{18}$ years. This is the most accurate determination of the $2\nu\beta\beta$ half-life of $^{100}$Mo to date. We also confirm, with the statistical significance of $>3\sigm…