Recent Developments and Results on Double Beta Decays with Crystal Scintillators and HPGe Spectrometry

Recent developments, results, and perspectives arising from double beta decay experiments at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN by using HPGe detectors and crystal scintillators and by exploiting various approaches and different isotopes are summarized. The measurements here presented have been performed in the experimental set-ups of the DAMA collaboration. These setups are optimized for low-background studies and operate deep underground at LNGS. The presented results are of significant value to the field, and the sensitivity achieved for some of the considered isotopes is one of the best available to date.

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Techniques for Background Identification in the Search for Rare Processes with Crystal Scintillators

Physics ◽

10.3390/physics3020015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 187-206

Author(s):

Fabio Cappella ◽

Antonella Incicchitti

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Nuclear Physics ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Experimental Techniques ◽

Low Background ◽

Inorganic Crystal ◽

Over Time

In astroparticle, nuclear and subnuclear physics, low-counting experiments play an increasingly important role in the investigation of rare processes such as dark matter, double beta decay, some neutrino processes and low-background spectrometry. Extremely low-background features are more and more required to produce detectors and apparata of suitable sensitivity. Over time, a great deal of interest and attention in developing experimental techniques suitable to improve, verify and maintain the radiopurity of these detectors has arisen. In this paper, the characterization of inorganic crystal scintillators (such as, e.g., NaI(Tl), ZnWO4 and CdWO4) using α, β and γ radioactive sources and the main experimental techniques applied in the field to quantitatively identify the radioactive contaminants are highlighted; in particular, we focus on inorganic crystal scintillators, widely used in rare processes investigation, considering their applications at noncryogenic temperatures in the framework of the DAMA experiment activities at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN).

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The Low-Background HPGE Γ-Spectrometer OBELIX for the Investigation of the Double Beta Decay to Excited States

IOSR Journal of Applied Physics ◽

10.9790/4861-0901012229 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 09 (01) ◽

pp. 22-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

V.B. Brudanin ◽

V.G. Egorov ◽

R. Hodák ◽

A.A. Klimenko ◽

P. Loaiza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Excited States ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Low Background ◽

Γ Spectrometer

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STATUS OF THE CUORE EXPERIMENT

Acta Polytechnica ◽

10.14311/ap.2013.53.0782 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 53 (A) ◽

pp. 782-785

Author(s):

Claudia Tomei

Keyword(s):

Beta Decay ◽

Total Mass ◽

Rare Events ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Tellurium Dioxide ◽

Nuclear Process ◽

Majorana Mass ◽

Under Construction

The CUORE (Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events) experiment will search for neutrinoless double beta decay of <sup>130</sup>Te, a rare nuclear process that, if observed, would demonstrate the Majorana nature of the neutrino and enable measurements of the effective Majorana mass. The CUORE setup consists of an array of 988 tellurium dioxide crystals, operated as bolometers, with a total mass of about 200 kg of <sup>130</sup>Te. The experiment is under construction at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy. As a first step towards CUORE, the first tower (CUORE-0) has been assembled and will soon be in operation.

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The DAMA project

International Journal of Modern Physics A ◽

10.1142/s0217751x1642001x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (31) ◽

pp. 1642001 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Bernabei

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Rare Event ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Short Introduction ◽

Low Background ◽

The Past

The DAMA project at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. has realized and developed many low background scintillators for rare event searches, as investigation of Dark Matter, double beta decay, etc. A short introduction to the project and a summary of the past and present activities will be given here.

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Recent developments in double beta decay

Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements ◽

10.1016/j.nuclphysbps.2007.02.006 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 168 ◽

pp. 57-59

Author(s):

Fedor Šimkovic

Keyword(s):

Beta Decay ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Recent Developments

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Double Beta Decay to Excited States of Daughter Nuclei

Universe ◽

10.3390/universe6120239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 239

Author(s):

Pierluigi Belli ◽

Rita Bernabei ◽

Fabio Cappella ◽

Vincenzo Caracciolo ◽

Riccardo Cerulli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Excited States ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Half Life ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Experimental Techniques ◽

Lower Limits ◽

Beta Decays

In this paper we review results obtained in the searches of double beta decays to excited states of the daughter nuclei and illustrate the related experimental techniques. In particular, we describe in some detail the only two cases in which the transition has been observed; that is the 2β−(0+→01+) decay of 100Mo and 150Nd nuclides. Moreover, the most significant results in terms of lower limits on the half-life are also summarized.

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Cosmogenic Activation in Double Beta Decay Experiments

Universe ◽

10.3390/universe6100162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (10) ◽

pp. 162

Author(s):

Susana Cebrián

Keyword(s):

Cosmic Rays ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Nuclear Process ◽

Different Types ◽

Deep Underground ◽

Cosmogenic Activation ◽

Materials Used ◽

Set Up ◽

Copper Lead

Double beta decay is a very rare nuclear process and, therefore, experiments intended to detect it must be operated deep underground and in ultra-low background conditions. Long-lived radioisotopes produced by the previous exposure of materials to cosmic rays on the Earth’s surface or even underground can become problematic for the required sensitivity. Here, the studies developed to quantify and reduce the activation yields in detectors and materials used in the set-up of these experiments will be reviewed, considering target materials like germanium, tellurium and xenon together with other ones commonly used like copper, lead, stainless steel or argon. Calculations following very different approaches and measurements from irradiation experiments using beams or directly cosmic rays will be considered for relevant radioisotopes. The effect of cosmogenic activation in present and future double beta decay projects based on different types of detectors will be analyzed too.

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