skip to main content


Title: Search for the double-beta decay of $^{82}$Se to the excited states of $^{82}$Kr with NEMO-3
The double-beta decay of 82Se to the 0+1excited state of 82Kr has been studied with the NEMO-3 detector using 0.93kg of enriched 82Se measured for 4.75y, corresponding to an exposure of 4.42kg·y. Adedicated analysis to reconstruct the γ-rays has been performed to search for events in the 2e2γchannel. No evidence of a 2νββdecay to the 0+1state has been observed and a limit of T2ν1/2(82Se, 0+gs→0+1) >1.3 ×1021yat 90%CL has been set. Concerning the 0νββdecay to the 0+1state, alimit for this decay has been obtained with T0ν1/2(82Se, 0+gs→0+1) >2.3 ×1022yat 90%CL, independently from the 2νββdecay process. These results are obtained for the first time with a tracko-calo detector, reconstructing every particle in the final state.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1811901
PAR ID:
10308972
Author(s) / Creator(s):
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nuclear physics
Volume:
996
ISSN:
0375-9474
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. null (Ed.)
    Abstract The CUORE experiment is a large bolometric array searching for the lepton number violating neutrino-less double beta decay ( $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β ) in the isotope $$\mathrm {^{130}Te}$$ 130 Te . In this work we present the latest results on two searches for the double beta decay (DBD) of $$\mathrm {^{130}Te}$$ 130 Te to the first $$0^{+}_2$$ 0 2 + excited state of $$\mathrm {^{130}Xe}$$ 130 Xe : the $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β decay and the Standard Model-allowed two-neutrinos double beta decay ( $$2\nu \beta \beta $$ 2 ν β β ). Both searches are based on a 372.5 kg $$\times $$ × yr TeO $$_2$$ 2 exposure. The de-excitation gamma rays emitted by the excited Xe nucleus in the final state yield a unique signature, which can be searched for with low background by studying coincident events in two or more bolometers. The closely packed arrangement of the CUORE crystals constitutes a significant advantage in this regard. The median limit setting sensitivities at 90% Credible Interval (C.I.) of the given searches were estimated as $$\mathrm {S^{0\nu }_{1/2} = 5.6 \times 10^{24} \, \mathrm {yr}}$$ S 1 / 2 0 ν = 5.6 × 10 24 yr for the $${0\nu \beta \beta }$$ 0 ν β β decay and $$\mathrm {S^{2\nu }_{1/2} = 2.1 \times 10^{24} \, \mathrm {yr}}$$ S 1 / 2 2 ν = 2.1 × 10 24 yr for the $${2\nu \beta \beta }$$ 2 ν β β decay. No significant evidence for either of the decay modes was observed and a Bayesian lower bound at $$90\%$$ 90 % C.I. on the decay half lives is obtained as: $$\mathrm {(T_{1/2})^{0\nu }_{0^+_2} > 5.9 \times 10^{24} \, \mathrm {yr}}$$ ( T 1 / 2 ) 0 2 + 0 ν > 5.9 × 10 24 yr for the $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β mode and $$\mathrm {(T_{1/2})^{2\nu }_{0^+_2} > 1.3 \times 10^{24} \, \mathrm {yr}}$$ ( T 1 / 2 ) 0 2 + 2 ν > 1.3 × 10 24 yr for the $$2\nu \beta \beta $$ 2 ν β β mode. These represent the most stringent limits on the DBD of $$^{130}$$ 130 Te to excited states and improve by a factor $$\sim 5$$ ∼ 5 the previous results on this process. 
    more » « less
  2. null (Ed.)
    Lead-free perovskites and their analogues have been extensively studied as a class of next-generation luminescent and optoelectronic materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of new colloidal Cs 4 M( ii )Bi 2 Cl 12 (M( ii ) = Cd, Mn) nanocrystals (NCs) with unique luminescence properties. The obtained Cs 4 M( ii )Bi 2 Cl 12 NCs show a layered double perovskite (LDP) crystal structure with good particle stability. Density functional theory calculations show that both samples exhibit a wide, direct bandgap feature. Remarkably, the strong Mn–Mn coupling effect of the Cs 4 M( ii )Bi 2 Cl 12 NCs results in an ultra-short Mn photoluminescence (PL) decay lifetime of around 10 μs, around two orders of magnitude faster than commonly observed Mn 2+ dopant emission in NCs. Diluting the Mn 2+ ion concentration through forming Cs 4 (Cd 1−x Mn x )Bi 2 Cl 12 (0 < x < 1) alloyed LDP NCs leads to prolonged PL lifetimes and enhanced PL quantum yields. Our study provides the first synthetic example of Bi-based LDP colloidal NCs with potential for serving as a new category of stable lead-free perovskite-type materials for various applications. 
    more » « less
  3. A bstract We report on a measurement of the $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + to D 0 production ratio in peripheral PbPb collisions at $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ s NN = 5 . 02 TeV with the LHCb detector in the forward rapidity region 2 < y < 4 . 5. The $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + ( D 0 ) hadrons are reconstructed via the decay channel $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + → pK − π + ( D 0 → K − π + ) for 2 < p T < 8 GeV/ c and in the centrality range of about 65–90%. The results show no significant dependence on p T , y or the mean number of participating nucleons. They are also consistent with similar measurements obtained by the LHCb collaboration in pPb and Pbp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ s NN = 5 . 02 TeV. The data agree well with predictions from PYTHIA in pp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 5 TeV but are in tension with predictions of the Statistical Hadronization model. 
    more » « less
  4. A bstract A search for the exotic decay of the Higgs boson ( H ) into a b $$ \overline{b} $$ b ¯ resonance plus missing transverse momentum is described. The search is performed with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider using 139 fb − 1 of pp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 13 TeV. The search targets events from ZH production in an NMSSM scenario where H → $$ {\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_2^0{\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0 $$ χ ~ 2 0 χ ~ 1 0 , with $$ {\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_2^0 $$ χ ~ 2 0 → $$ a{\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0 $$ a χ ~ 1 0 , where a is a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson and $$ {\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_{1,2}^0 $$ χ ~ 1 , 2 0 are the two lightest neutralinos. The decay of the a boson into a pair of b -quarks results in a peak in the dijet invariant mass distribution. The final-state signature consists of two leptons, two or more jets, at least one of which is identified as originating from a b -quark, and missing transverse momentum. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations and upper limits are set on the product of cross section times branching ratio for a three-dimensional scan of the masses of the $$ {\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_2^0 $$ χ ~ 2 0 , $$ {\overset{\sim }{\chi}}_1^0 $$ χ ~ 1 0 and a boson. 
    more » « less
  5. The size of a ΔK ¼ 0 M1 excitation strength has been determined for the first time in a predominantly axially deformed even-even nucleus. It has been obtained from the observation of a rare K-mixing situation between two close-lying Jπ ¼ 1þ states of the nucleus 164Dy with components characterized by intrinsic projection quantum numbers K ¼ 0 and K ¼ 1. Nuclear resonance fluorescence induced by quasimonochromatic linearly polarized γ-ray beams provided evidence for K mixing of the 1þ states at 3159.1(3) and 3173.6(3) keV in excitation energy from their γ-decay branching ratios into the ground-state band. The ΔK ¼ 0 transition strength of BðM1; 0 þ 1 → 1 þ K¼0 Þ ¼ 0.008ð1Þμ2 N was inferred from a mixing analysis of their M1 transition rates into the ground-state band. It is in agreement with predictions from the quasiparticle phonon nuclear model. This determination represents first experimental information on the M1 excitation strength of a nuclear quantum state with a negative R-symmetry quantum number. 
    more » « less