Investigation of double-beta decay with the NEMO-3 detector

The double-beta-decay experiment NEMO-3 has been taking data since February 2003. The aim of this experiment is to search for neutrinoless (0 νββ) decay and investigate two neutrino doublebeta decay in seven different isotopically enriched samples (¹⁰⁰Mo, ⁸²Se, ⁴⁸Ca, ⁹⁶Zr, ¹¹⁶Cd, ¹³⁰Te, and ¹⁵⁰Nd). After analysis of the data corresponding to 3.75 yr, no evidence for 0 νββ decay in the 100Mo and 82Se samples was found. The half-life limits at the 90% C.L. are 1.1 × 10²⁴ and 3.6 × 10²³ yr, respectively. Additionally for 0 νββ decay the following limits at the 90% C.L. were obtained, >1.3 × 10²² yr for ⁴⁸Ca, >9.2 × 10²¹ yr for ⁹⁶Zr, and >1.8 × 10²² yr for 150Nd. The 2 νββ decay half-life values were precisely measured for all investigated isotopes.     

Double-beta-decay experiment NEMO-3: Preliminary results of phase I (2003–2004)

The NEMO-3 detector has been taking data in the Fréjus underground laboratory (LSM, France) since February 2003 and is devoted to the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ). After 389 effective days of data collection from February 2003 until September 2004 (Phase I), no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay was found from ∼7 kg of ¹⁰⁰Mo and ∼1 kg of ⁸²Se. The corresponding limits for the half-lives are T _1/2(0νββ) > 4.6 × 10²³ yr for ¹⁰⁰Mo and T _1/2(0νββ) > 1.0 × 10²³ yr for ⁸²Se (90% C.L.). They lead to the following limits for the effective Majorana neutrino mass: 〈m _ν〉 < 0.7–2.8 eV for ¹⁰⁰Mo and 〈m _ν〉 < 1.8–4.9 eV for ⁸²Se. The half-lives of the two-neutrino double-beta decay (2νββ) have been measured for ¹⁰⁰Mo, ⁸²Se, ¹¹⁶Cd, ¹⁵⁰Nd, and ⁹⁶Zr and reported here as well. on behalf of NEMO Collaboration The text was submitted by the author in English.     

The NEMO-3 experiment and the SuperNEMO project

The NEMO experiment investigates the neutrinoless double beta decay. The NEMO-3 detector is collecting data in the Frejus Underground Laboratory.The goal of the SuperNEMO detector is to reach a sensitivity of the order of 10²⁶ year on the half-life of the ββ0ν process. The chosen isotopes for the future detector are ⁸²Se and ¹⁵⁰Nd, because of the reduced background. The collaboration has started a 3-year R& D development on all components: tracking detector, calorimeter, source enrichment and purification and radiopurity measurements.     

Status of the INR experiment on 2β decay of Cd

Measurements of ¹¹⁶Cd double beta decay with help of enriched¹¹⁶CdWO₄ crystal scintillator are in progress in the Solotvina Underground Laboratory. The last part of the exposition with the background rate less than 0.6 counts/y·kg·keV (in the region of interest 2.7–2.9 MeV) is about 19000 hours. The half-life limit T1/2(0ν)≥3.2·10²² y (90% C.L.) is obtained for neutrinoless 2β decay of ¹¹⁶Cd. It corresponds to restrictions on the values of the neutrino mass m_ν≤3.9 eV, right-handed admixtures in weak interaction η≤5.7·10⁻⁸, λ5.0·10⁻⁶ and R-parity violating parameter of minimal supersymmetric standard model ≤1.1·10⁻³. For neutrinoless modes with emission of one and two Majorons, the limits T1/2(0νM1)≥1.2·10²¹ y and T1/2(0νM2)≥2.4·10²⁰ y (90% C.L.) are determined. To advance these results to a level of the limit m_ν≤1–2 eV, the improved set-up with four enriched ¹¹⁶CdWO₄ crystals is in mounting low.     

Line Positions and Intensities of the ν1+ ν2+ 3ν3, ν2+ 4ν3, and 3ν1+ 2ν2Bands of Ozone

Using a Fourier transform spectrometer, we have recorded the spectra of ozone in the region of 4600 cm⁻¹, with a resolution of 0.008 cm⁻¹. The strongest absorption in this region is due to the ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃band which is in Coriolis interaction with the ν₂+ 4ν₃band. We have been able to assign more than 1700 transitions for these two bands. To correctly reproduce the calculation of energy levels, it has been necessary to introduce the (320) state which strongly perturbs the (113) and (014) states through Coriolis- and Fermi-type resonances. Seventy transitions of the 3ν₁+ 2ν₂band have also been observed. The final fit on 926 energy levels withJ_max= 50 andK_max= 16 gives RMS = 3.1 × 10⁻³cm⁻¹and provides a satisfactory agreement of calculated and observed upper levels for most of the transitions. The following values for band centers are derived: ν₀(ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃) = 4658.950 cm⁻¹, ν₀(3ν₁+ 2ν₂) = 4643.821 cm⁻¹, and ν₀(ν₂+ 4ν₃) = 4632.888 cm⁻¹. Line intensities have been measured and fitted, leading to the determination of transition moment parameters for the two bands ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃and ν₂+ 4ν₃. Using these parameters we have obtained the following estimations for the integrated band intensities,S_V(ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃) = 8.84 × 10⁻²²,S_V(ν₂+ 4ν₃) = 1.70 × 10⁻²², andS_V(3ν₁+ 2ν₂) = 0.49 × 10⁻²²cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻²at 296 K, which correspond to a cutoff of 10⁻²⁶cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻².     

Testing the Pauli exclusion principle with the NEMO-2 detector

The Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) was tested with the NEMO-2 detector. Limits at the 90% C.L. on the violation of PEP for p-shell nucleons in ¹²C were obtained. Specifically, transitions to the fully occupied 1s _1/2-shell yielded a limit of 4.2 · 10²⁴ y for the process with emission of a γ-quantum. Similarly limits of 3.1 · 10²⁴ y for β⁻ and 2.6 · 10²⁴ y for β⁺ Pauli-forbidden transitions of ¹²C →¹²?¹²B) are reported here. Received: 25 August 1999     

Nemo double-beta-decay experiments

To investigate double beta decay processes the NEMO collaboration developed an electron tracking detector made of Geiger cells for track reconstruction and plastic scintillators for energy measurements. The prototype, NEMO-2, is described and results onββ decay of¹⁰⁰Mo,¹¹⁶Cd,⁸²Se and⁹⁶Zr are given. A brief presentation of the status and design parameters of a new detector NEMO-3, which is approximately 20 times larger, will also be given.     

High-Resolution Infrared Spectra of the ν2, ν3, ν4, and 2ν3 Bands of SO3

New measurements are reported for the infrared spectrum of sulfur trioxide, ³²S¹⁶O₃, with resolutions ranging from 0.0015 cm⁻¹ to 0.0025 cm⁻¹. Rovibrational constants have been measured for the fundamentals ν₂, ν₃, and ν₄ and the overtone band 2ν₃. Comparisons are made with the earlier high-resolution measurements on SO₃, and the high correlation among some of the constants related to the Coriolis coupling of the ν₂ and ν₄ levels is discussed in order to understand the areas of disagreement with the earlier work. Splittings of some of the levels are observed and the splitting constant for K=3 of the ground state is determined for the first time. Other observed splittings include the K=1 levels of 2ν₃ (l=2), the K=2 levels of ν₃ and ν₄, and the K=3 levels of ν₂. The analysis shows that there are level crossings between the l=0 and l=2 states of 2ν₃ that allow one to determine the separation of the subband centers for these two states even though access to the l=0 state from the ground state is electric-dipole forbidden. This is a generalized phenomenon that should be found for many other molecules with the same symmetry. The l-type resonance constant, q₃, that causes the splitting of the l₃=±1, k=±1 levels of ν₃ also couples the l₃=0 and 2 states of 2ν₃.     

Search for double beta decay of Mo with liquid argon ionization chamber (first results)

First two runs with 138.7 g of ¹⁰⁰Mo were done 9202 h and 238 h). Limits on half-lives for 0ν- and 0νχ⁰-decays of ¹⁰⁰Mo were obtained, > 2.3 · 10²¹ y and 0.8 · 10²⁰ y, respectively at 90% CL. Also the limit on the content of radioactive ⁴²Ar in the natural Ar was obtained, < 5 · 10⁻²¹ g/g. Perspectives for the future are discussed.     

Analysis of the Coriolis-coupled band system of ν5, ν2, and 2ν3 of methyl-d3 iodide

The Coriolis-coupled band system of ν₅, ν₂, and 2ν₃ of CD₃I was analyzed by making use of all of the experimental data now available. These data included the high-resolution infrared spectra, microwave spectra, and laser Stark spectra. The analysis gave values, more precise than before, of the spectroscopic constants for ν₅, ν₂, and 2ν₃ and the interaction constants. The determination of the rotational constant A for 2ν₃ gave a value for , with which all of the α^A constants for CD₃I have been completed. These α^A values were incorporated with the known value of A₆ to give a value for A₀.     

Millimeter-Wave and High-Resolution Infrared Spectra of Monoisotopic SCSe: Equilibrium, Ground State, and ν1, mν2, and nν3 Rovibrational Parameters

The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of monoisotopic SC⁸⁰Se has been investigated in the ν₂, ν₃, 2ν₂, 2ν₃, and ν₁ regions with a resolution between 3 and 4 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. In addition, the millimeter-wave spectrum has been studied in the region 150 to 320 GHz, and ground and ν₂ = 1 excited state transitions have been measured. Ground state constants, B₀ = 2043.285 4(4) MHz and D₀ = 146.53(5) Hz, have been determined from a merge of millimeter-wave data and ground state combination differences spanning J values up to 77 and 143, respectively. The band centers ν₂ = 352.341 075(9) cm⁻¹ and ν₃ = 505.480 06(5)cm⁻¹ have been determined. The rovibrational parameters of numerous overtone and combination levels (ν₁ν^l2₂ν₃) = 02⁰0, 02²0, 03¹0, 03³0, 04⁰0, 04²0, 00⁰2, and 00⁰3 have been obtained from polynomial analyses whose standard deviations ranged from 0.7 to 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. The 10⁰0 level, ν_eff 1435.840 cm⁻¹, is anharmonically perturbed by the 04⁰0 level, with an avoided crossing at J = 55, and W₁₂₂₂₂ = 0.963 09(1) cm⁻¹. Transitions to both the upper (E⁺) and lower (E⁻) sublevels of the dyad were observed for 1 ≤ J′ ≤ 117 and 4 ≤ J′ ≤ 171, respectively, and the deperturbed wavenumbers ν₁ = 1435.542 76(2) and 4ν⁰₂ = 1432.725 00(3) cm⁻¹ were derived. Furthermore, a local crossing of the E⁻ and 04²0 levels involving l-type resonance was observed at J = 91.     

Looking for double beta decay of Nd to excited states of Sm by gamma ray spectroscopy

We have measured the gamma ray activity of a sample of 6189 grams of metallic Neodimium with a germanium detector. From the gamma energy spectrum recorded during almost 6500 hours we extract lower limits for the halflife of the inclusive (0ν + 2ν) ββ decay of ¹⁵⁰Nd to the first excited states of ¹⁵⁰Sm : t_1/2(0⁺ → 0₁⁺ > 1.0·10²⁰, t_1/2(O⁺ → 0₂⁺) > 2.0 · 10²⁾, t_1/2(0⁺ → 2₁⁺) > 9.1 · 10¹⁹.     

The 2ν8 Band of CH3CN

The overtone band 2ν⁰₈ of CH₃CN around 720 cm⁻¹ has been measured on a Bruker Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 0.003 cm⁻¹. Only the parallel band was observed, but due to the l(2, 2) resonance, ΔK = −2 lines leading to the v₈ = 2, l₈ = −2 levels with K = 1-3 could be seen. More information for the l₈ = ±2 component of the vibrational state v₈ = 2 was evaluated from the hot band 2ν^±2₈ - ν^±1₈. Altogether more than 1000 lines were assigned. In the fit pure rotational lines from literature were also combined. Among the results the anomalous A₀ - A′ values 4.6722(13) × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for the 2ν⁰₈ band and 7.0324(32) × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for the 2ν^±2₈ band are striking.     

The ν1 and ν3 Bands of the OOO Isotopomer of Ozone

Using 0.002 cm⁻¹ resolution Fourier transform absorption spectra of an ¹⁷O-enriched ozone sample, an extensive analysis of the ν₃ band together with a partial identification of the ν₁ band of the ¹⁷O¹⁶O¹⁷O isotopomer of ozone has been performed for the first time. As for other C_2v-type ozone isotopomers [J.-M. Flaud and R. Bacis, Spectrochim. Acta, Part A 54, 3–16 (1998)], the (001) rotational levels are involved in a Coriolis-type resonance with the levels of the (100) vibrational state. The experimental rotational levels of the (001) and (100) vibrational states have been satisfactorily reproduced using a Hamiltonian matrix which takes into account the observed rovibrational resonances. In this way precise vibrational energies and rotational and coupling constants were deduced and the following band centers ν₀(ν₃) = 1030.0946 cm⁻¹ and ν₀(ν₁) = 1086.7490 cm⁻¹ were obtained for the ν₃ and ν₁ bands, respectively.     

Extracting (α/π) Σa,μνGμνGμν from gauge theories on a lattice

The quantity G = (α/π) Σ_a,μνG_μν^aG_μν^a is extracted from Monte Carlo data for SU(2) lattice gauge theory We find G = 0.015 ± 0.002 GeV⁴.     

Studies of the quantum Hall to quantum Hall insulator transition in InSb-based 2DESs

The temperature dependence of ρ_xx is studied in the vicinity of the quantum Hall to quantum Hall insulator transition (ν=1→0) in InSb/InAlSb based 2DESs. ρ_xx displays a symmetric temperature dependence about the transition with on the QH side and on the insulating side. A plot of 1/T₀ for successive ν displays power-law divergence with 1/T₀∝|ν−ν_c|^−γ,² with γ=2.2±0.3. This critical behavior in addition to the behavior expected of the quantum transport regime confirms that the QH/QHI transition is indeed a good quantum phase transition.     

Further evidence for neutrino oscillations from LSND: the νμ → νe decay-in-flight channel

A search for ν_μ → ν_e oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) using ν_μ from π⁺ decay in flight. An excess in the number of beam-related events from the ν_e C → e⁻ X inclusive reaction is observed. The excess is too large to be explained by normal ν_e contamination in the beam at a confidence level greater than 99%. If interpreted as an oscillation signal, the observed oscillation probability of (2.6 ± 1.3 ± 0.5) × 10⁻³ is consistent with the previously reported oscillation evidence from LSND.     

High-accuracy frequency atlas of 13C2H2 in the 1.5 μm region

A pair of 1.5 μm semiconductor laser frequency standards have been developed for optical telecommunications use, stabilised to Doppler-free transitions of the ν₁ + ν₃ and ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ combination bands of ¹³C₂H₂. The Allan deviation σ/f for a laser locked to line P(10) of the former band follows a slope of 1.6 × 10⁻¹²τ^−1/2, reaching a minimum of 5.7 × 10⁻¹⁴ at τ = 4000 s. The absolute frequencies of 61 lines of the ν₁ + ν₃ band and 43 lines of the ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ band, covering the spectral region 1520 nm to 1552 nm, have been measured by use of a combined frequency chain and femtosecond comb, together with a passive optical frequency comb generator. The mean uncertainties for the line frequencies within each band are 1.4 kHz for the ν₁ + ν₃ band and 1.9 kHz for the ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ band, representing improvements on the precision of previously published data by factors of 100 and 10⁴, respectively. Improved values of the rotational constant B″ and centrifugal distortion coefficients D″, H″ and L″ of the vibrational ground state are presented.This article is published with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer of Scotland