Search for the double electron capture and electron capture/$\beta ^{+}$ decay of $^{120}$Te
ORAL
Abstract
Te-120 is a rare, naturally-occurring isotope that can undergo double electron capture and electron capture/$\beta ^{+}$ decay with a Q-value of 1700$\pm $10 keV. We have analyzed data from CUORICINO to place the most stringent limits on these decay modes. CUORICINO is an array of 62 bolometers comprised primarily of $^{nat}$TeO$_{2}$ crystals and contains 27 g of $^{120}$Te (natural abundance 0.1{\%}). The search for neutrinoless decay modes is currently complicated by a large uncertainty in the decay Q-value. We will present the status of this analysis and prospects for future improvements that will come from data to be collected with the 1-ton TeO$_{2}$ bolometer array CUORE and a Q-value measurement with sub-keV precision. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
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Authors
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Nicholas Scielzo
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL