Search for β +/EC double beta decay of 120Te

• Published in: Astroparticle physics 2011-03, Vol.34 (8), p.643-648
• Main Authors: Andreotti, E., Arnaboldi, C., Avignone, F.T., Balata, M., Bandac, I., Barucci, M., Beeman, J.W., Bellini, F., Brofferio, C., Bryant, A., Bucci, C., Canonica, L., Capelli, S., Carbone, L., Carrettoni, M., Clemenza, M., Cremonesi, O., Creswick, R.J., Di Domizio, S., Dolinski, M.J., Ejzak, L., Faccini, R., Farach, H.A., Ferri, E., Fiorini, E., Foggetta, L., Giachero, A., Gironi, L., Giuliani, A., Gorla, P., Guardincerri, E., Gutierrez, T.D., Haller, E.E., Kazkaz, K., Kraft, S., Kogler, L., Maiano, C., Maruyama, R.H., Martinez, C., Martinez, M., Newman, S., Nisi, S., Nones, C., Norman, E.B., Nucciotti, A., Orio, F., Pallavicini, M., Palmieri, V., Pattavina, L., Pavan, M., Pedretti, M., Pessina, G., Pirro, S., Previtali, E., Risegari, L., Rosenfeld, C., Rusconi, C., Salvioni, C., Sangiorgio, S., Schaeffer, D., Scielzo, N.D., Sisti, M., Smith, A.R., Tomei, C., Ventura, G., Vignati, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bolometers; Double beta decay; Electron capture; Neutrino mass; Neutrino properties
• ISSN: 0927-6505; 1873-2852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2010.12.011

We present a search for β +/EC double beta decay of 120Te performed with the CUORICINO experiment, an array of TeO 2 cryogenic bolometers. After collecting 0.0573 kg · y of 120Te, we see no evidence of a signal and therefore set the following limits on the half-life: T 1 / 2 0 ν > 1.9 · 10 21 y at 90% C.L. for the 0 ν mode and T 1 / 2 2 ν > 7.6 · 10 19 y at 90% C.L. for the 2 ν mode. These results improve the existing limits by almost three orders of magnitude (four in the case of 0 ν mode).