0000000000644600

AUTHOR

G. Heusser

Investigation of the ββ decay of 116Cd into excited states of 116Sn

Abstract The double-beta decay of 116Cd into excited states of 116Sn is experimentally and theoretically investigated. From an inclusive experiment, using an external source of isotopically enriched Cd, new most stringent limits for the allowed and non-standard-model decays into excited states are derived. It is further investigated whether the bremsstrahlung emitted by the ββ electrons can be used to derive information on the ground-state decay. For the two-neutrino-decay mode a calculation, using the quasiparticle random-phase approximation, shows that the disadvantage in phase space, in comparison to the ground-state decay, is partially compensated through the nuclear-matrix element. Exp…

research product

GENIUS - a Supersensitive Germanium Detector System for Rare Events

To increase by a major step the present sensitivity for dark matter and double beta decay search, a new project is suggested, which would operate 'naked' GErmanium detectors in liquid NItrogen as shielding in an Underground Setup (GENIUS). In a first step using 100 kg of natural Ge a large part of the MSSM parameter space for prediction of neutralinos as cold dark matter will be covered making the experiment complementary to LHC in the search for supersymmetry. In the second step use of one ton of enriched 76Ge would yield a sensitivity for double beta decay for the effective Majorana neutrino mass of \0.01 eV. This would be a breakthrough for neutrino physics. GENIUS would also be a breakt…

research product

Bounds on new Majoron models from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment

In recent years several new Majoron models were invented to avoid shortcomings of the classical models while leading to observable decay rates in double beta experiments. We give the first experimental half life bounds on double beta decays with new Majoron emission and derive bounds on the effective neutrino--Majoron couplings from the data of the $^{76}Ge$ HEIDELBERG--MOSCOW experiment. While stringent half life limits for all decay modes and the coupling constants of the classical models were obtained, small matrix elements and phase space integrals \cite{hir95,pae95} result in much weaker limits on the effective coupling constants of the new Majoron models.

research product