Ultra-low gamma-ray measurement system for neutrinoless double beta decay

Appl Radiat Isot. 2013 Nov:81:290-3. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.03.057. Epub 2013 Apr 6.

Abstract

An experiment for the detection of 0νβ(+)/EC and 0νEC/EC in 92Mo nuclei has been carried out with a scintillating crystal, CaMoO4, in coincidence with the HPGe detector. We study the background events inside the event selection window for 0ν β(+)/EC decays of CaMoO4 detector. For 51.2 days of data taking period, we didn't observe any event in the neutrinoless EC/EC decay event window. The (92)Mo 0νβ(+)/EC decay half-life limit was set to 0.61×10(20) years with a 90% confidence by method of Feldman and Cousins. This ultra-low gamma ray measurement utilizing coincidence technique can be used for the resonant EC/EC decay process of some nuclei which is potentially important for neutrinoless double beta decay process.

Keywords: (92)Mo; 0νβ(+)/EC; Neutrinoless double beta decay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Beta Particles
  • Elementary Particles
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Gamma Rays*
  • Half-Life
  • Isotopes / analysis*
  • Molybdenum / analysis*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Scintillation Counting / instrumentation*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Gamma / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Isotopes
  • Molybdenum