Search results for "double-beta decay"
showing 10 items of 32 documents
Spectral modeling of scintillator for the NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO detectors
2010
We have constructed a GEANT4-based detailed software model of photon transport in plastic scintillator blocks and have used it to study the NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO calorimeters employed in experiments designed to search for neutrinoless double beta decay. We compare our simulations to measurements using conversion electrons from a calibration source of $\rm ^{207}Bi$ and show that the agreement is improved if wavelength-dependent properties of the calorimeter are taken into account. In this article, we briefly describe our modeling approach and results of our studies.
Effective Majorana mass matrix from tau and pseudoscalar meson lepton number violating decays
2018
An observation of any lepton number violating process will undoubtedly point towards the existence of new physics and indirectly to the clear Majorana nature of the exchanged fermion. In this work, we explore the potential of a minimal extension of the Standard Model via heavy sterile fermions with masses in the $[ 0.1 - 10]$ GeV range concerning an extensive array of "neutrinoless" meson and tau decay processes. We assume that the Majorana neutrinos are produced on-shell, and focus on three-body decays. We conduct an update on the bounds on the active-sterile mixing elements, $|U_{\ell_\alpha 4} U_{\ell_\beta 4}|$, taking into account the most recent experimental bounds (and constraints) a…
Detailed studies of $^{100}$Mo two-neutrino double beta decay in NEMO-3
2019
The full data set of the NEMO-3 experiment has been used to measure the half-life of the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo to the ground state of $^{100}$Ru, $T_{1/2} = \left[ 6.81 \pm 0.01\,\left(\mbox{stat}\right) ^{+0.38}_{-0.40}\,\left(\mbox{syst}\right) \right] \times10^{18}$ y. The two-electron energy sum, single electron energy spectra and distribution of the angle between the electrons are presented with an unprecedented statistics of $5\times10^5$ events and a signal-to-background ratio of ~80. Clear evidence for the Single State Dominance model is found for this nuclear transition. Limits on Majoron emitting neutrinoless double beta decay modes with spectral indices of …
Operation and first results of the NEXT-DEMO prototype using a silicon photomultiplier tracking array
2013
NEXT-DEMO is a high-pressure xenon gas TPC which acts as a technological test-bed and demonstrator for the NEXT-100 neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. In its current configuration the apparatus fully implements the NEXT-100 design concept. This is an asymmetric TPC, with an energy plane made of photomultipliers and a tracking plane made of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) coated with TPB. The detector in this new configuration has been used to reconstruct the characteristic signature of electrons in dense gas, demonstrating the ability to identify the MIP and "blob" regions. Moreover, the SiPM tracking plane allows for the definition of a large fiducial region in which an excellent e…
Dependence of polytetrafluoroethylene reflectance on thickness at visible and ultraviolet wavelengths in air
2020
[EN] Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an excellent diffuse reflector widely used in light collection systems for particle physics experiments. However, the reflectance of PTFE is a function of its thickness. In this work, we investigate this dependence in air for light of wavelengths 260 nm and 450 nm using two complementary methods. We find that PTFE reflectance for thicknesses from 5 mm to 10 mm ranges from 92.5% to 94.5% at 450 nm, and from 90.0% to 92.0% at 260 nm We also see that the reflectance of PIFE of a given thickness can vary by as much as 2.7% within the same piece of material. Finally, we show that placing a specular reflector behind the PTFE can recover the loss of reflectan…
Electron drift properties in high pressure gaseous xenon
2018
[EN] Gaseous time projection chambers (TPC) are a very attractive detector technology for particle tracking. Characterization of both drift velocity and di¿usion is of great importance to correctly assess their tracking capabilities. NEXT-White is a High Pressure Xenon gas TPC with electroluminescent ampli¿cation, a 1:2 scale model of the future NEXT-100detector, which will be dedicated to neutrinoless double beta decay searches. NEXT-White has been operating at Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) since December2016. The drift parameters have been measured using 83mKr for a range of reduced drift ¿elds at two di¿erent pressure regimes, namely 7.2 bar and 9.1 bar. Theresults have been comp…
Consistent large-scale shell-model analysis of the two-neutrino ββ and single β branchings in 48Ca and 96Zr
2020
Abstract Two-neutrino double-beta-decay matrix elements M 2 ν and single beta-decay branching ratios were calculated for 48Ca and 96Zr in the interacting nuclear shell model using large single-particle valence spaces with well-tested two-body Hamiltonians. For 48Ca the matrix element M 2 ν = 0.0511 is obtained, which is 5.5% smaller than the previously reported value of 0.0539. For 96Zr this work reports the first large-scale shell-model calculation of the nuclear matrix element, yielding a value M 2 ν = 0.0747 with extreme single-state dominance. These matrix elements, combined with the available ββ-decay half-life data, yield effective values of the weak axial coupling which in turn are u…
Double-beta decay Q values of 116Cd and 130Te
2011
Abstract The Q values of the 116Cd and 130Te double-beta decaying nuclei were determined by using a Penning trap mass spectrometer. The new atomic mass difference between 116Cd and 116Sn of 2813.50(13) keV differs by 4.5 keV and is 30 times more precise than the previous value of 2809(4) keV. The new value for 130Te, 2526.97(23) keV is close to the Canadian Penning trap value of 2527.01 ± 0.32 keV (Scielzo et al., 2009) [1] , but differs from the Florida State University trap value of 2527.518 ± 0.013 keV (Redshaw et al., 2009) [2] by 0.55 keV (2σ). These values are sufficiently precise for ongoing neutrinoless double-beta decay searches in 116Cd and 130Te. Hence, our Q values were used to …
Q values of the 76Ge and 100Mo double-beta decays
2008
Abstract Penning trap measurements using mixed beams of 76Ge–76Se and 100Mo–100Ru have been utilized to determine the double-beta decay Q-values of 76Ge and 100Mo with uncertainties less than 200 eV. The value for 76Ge, 2039.04(16) keV is in agreement with the published SMILETRAP value, 2039.006(50) keV. The new value for 100Mo, 3034.40(17) keV is 30 times more precise than the previous literature value, sufficient for the ongoing neutrinoless double-beta decay searches in 100Mo. Moreover, the precise Q-value is used to calculate the phase-space integrals and the experimental nuclear matrix element of double-beta decay.
Recent results on heavy-ion direct reactions of interest for 0νββ decay at INFN - LNS
2020
Abstract Neutrinoless double beta decay of nuclei, if observed, would have important implications on fundamental physics. In particular it would give access to the effective neutrino mass. In order to extract such information from 0νββ decay half-life measurements, the knowledge of the Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) is of utmost importance. In this context the NUMEN and the NURE projects aim to extract information on the NME by measuring cross sections of Double Charge Exchange reactions in selected systems which are expected to spontaneously decay via 0νββ. In this work an overview of the experimental challenges that NUMEN is facing in order to perform the experiments with accelerated beams…