New limits on double beta decay of 106Cd

• Published in: Nuclear physics. A 2011-02, Vol.852 (1), p.197-206
• Main Authors: Rukhadze, N.I., Bakalyarov, A.M., Briançon, Ch, Brudanin, V.B., Čermák, P., Egorov, V.G., Klimenko, A.A., Kovalík, A., Lebedev, V.I., Mamedov, F., Shitov, Yu.A., Šimkovic, F., Štekl, I., Timkin, V.V., Zhukov, S.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: (KX-ray)(KX-ray); (KX-ray)γ-coin using TGV-2 spectrometer; 106Cd([formula omitted]); [formula omitted] lower limits for double- and zero-neutrino decay; Comparison with calculations; deduced; formula omitted; measured; Modane underground laboratory; Nuclear Experiment; Physics; Radioactivity
• ISSN: 0375-9474
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2011.01.006

Investigation of double electron capture in 106Cd was performed at the Modane underground laboratory (4800 m.w.e.) using the multi-detector spectrometer TGV-2. In Phase I of the experiment, ∼10 g of 106Cd with an enrichment of 75% was measured during 8687 hours. In Phase II, the TGV-2 background was significantly suppressed in comparison with Phase I and the 106Cd mass was increased to ∼13.6 g. New half-life limits (at 90% CL) were obtained for 2νEC/EC decay of 106Cd to the ground state of Pd106 – T1/2>3.0×1020 y (Phase I) and T1/2>3.6×1020 y (Phase II, 9000 hours), and for 0νEC/EC decay of 106Cd to the 2741 keV excited state of Pd106 – T1/2>1.1×1020 y (Phase II).