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A. S. Barabash

Publications and source records attributed to A. S. Barabash.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
arXiv2009

Search for $β^+$EC and ECEC processes in $^{112}$Sn

Limits on $β^+$EC (here EC denotes electron capture) and ECEC processes in $^{112}$Sn have been obtained using a 380 cm$^3$ HPGe detector and an external source consisting of 53.355 g enriched tin (94.32% of $^{112}$Sn). A limit with 90% C.L. on the $^{112}$Sn half-life of $4.7\times 10^{20}$ y for the ECEC(0$ν$) transition to the $0^+_3$ excited state in $^{112}$Cd (1871.0 keV) has been established. This transition is discussed in the context of a possible enhancement of the decay rate by several orders of magnitude given that the ECEC$(0ν)$ process is nearly degenerate with an excited state in the daughter nuclide. Prospects for investigating such a process in future experiments are discussed. The limits on other $β^+$EC and ECEC processes in $^{112}$Sn were obtained on the level of $(0.6-8.7)\times 10^{20}$ y at the 90% C.L.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2009

Average and recommended half-life values for two neutrino double beta decay: upgrade-09

All existing ``positive'' results on two neutrino double beta decay in different nuclei were analyzed. Using the procedure recommended by the Particle Data Group, weighted average values for half-lives of $^{48}$Ca, $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{96}$Zr, $^{100}$Mo, $^{100}$Mo - $^{100}$Ru ($0^+_1$), $^{116}$Cd, $^{130}$Te, $^{150}$Nd, $^{150}$Nd - $^{150}$Sm ($0^+_1$) and $^{238}$U were obtained. Existing geochemical data were analyzed and recommended values for half-lives of $^{128}$Te, $^{130}$Te and $^{130}$Ba are proposed. We recommend the use of these results as presently the most precise and reliable values for half-lives.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2009

Experimental test of the Pauli Exclusion Principle

A short review is given of three experimental works on tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) in which the author has been involved during the last 10 years. In the first work a search for anomalous carbon atoms was done and a limit on the existence of such atoms was determined, $^{12}\tilde{\mathrm C}$ / $^{12}$C $< 2.5\times10^{-12}$. In the second work PEP was tested with the NEMO-2 detector and the limits on the violation of PEP for p-shell nucleons in $^{12}$C were obtained. Specifically, transitions to the fully occupied $1s_{1/2}$-shell yielded a limit of $4.2\times10^{24}$ y for the process with the emission of a $γ$-quantum. Similarly limits of $3.1\times10^{24}$ y for $β^-$ and $2.6\times10^{24}$ y for $β^+$ Pauli-forbidded transition of $^{12}$C $\to$ $^{12}\tilde{\mathrm N}$($^{12}\tilde{\mathrm B}$) are reported. In the third work it was assumed that PEP is violated for neutrinos, and thus, neutrinos obey at least partly the Bose-Einstein statistics. Consequences of the violation of the exclusion principle for double beta decays were considered. This violation strongly changes the rates of the decays and modifies the energy and angular distributions of the emitted electrons. It was shown that pure bosonic neutrinos are excluded by the present experimental data. In the case of partly bosonic neutrinos the analysis of the existing data allows one to put an upper bound for $sin^2χ< 0.6$. The sensitivity of future measurements is also evaluated.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2009

Investigation of $ββ$ decay in $^{150}$Nd and $^{148}$Nd to the excited states of daughter nuclei

Double beta decay of $^{150}$Nd and $^{148}$Nd to the excited states of daughter nuclei have been studied using a 400 cm$^3$ low-background HPGe detector and an external source consisting of 3046 g of natural Nd$_2$O$_3$ powder. The half-life for the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{150}$Nd to the excited 0$^+_1$ state in $^{150}$Sm is measured to be $T_{1/2}=[1.33^{+0.36}_{-0.23}(stat)^{+0.27}_{-0.13}(syst)]\cdot 10^{20}$ y. For other $(0ν+ 2ν)$ transitions to the 2$^+_1$, 2$^+_2$, 2$^+_3$, and 0$^+_2$ levels in $^{150}$Sm, limits are obtained at the level of $\sim (2-8)\cdot 10^{20}$ y. In the case of $^{148}$Nd only limits for the $(0ν+ 2ν)$ transitions to the 2$^+_1$, 0$^+_1$, and 2$^+_2$ excited states in $^{148}$Sm were obtained and are at the level of \sim (4-8)\cdot 10^{20}$ y.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2009

Measurement of the background in the NEMO 3 double beta decay experiment

In the double beta decay experiment NEMO~3 a precise knowledge of the background in the signal region is of outstanding importance. This article presents the methods used in NEMO~3 to evaluate the backgrounds resulting from most if not all possible origins. It also illustrates the power of the combined tracking-calorimetry technique used in the experiment.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2009

New Results for Double-Beta Decay of Mo-100 to Excited Final States of Ru-100 Using the TUNL-ITEP Apparatus

The coincidence detection efficiency of the TUNL--ITEP apparatus designed for measuring half-life times of two-neutrino double-beta decay transitions to excited final states in daughter nuclei has been measured with a factor of 2.4 improved accuracy. In addition, the previous measuring time of 455 days for the study of the Mo-100 two-neutrino double-beta decay to the first excited 0+ state in Ru-100 has been increased by 450 days, and a new result (combined with the previous measurement obtained with the same apparatus) for this transition is presented: T_(1/2) = [5.5 (+1.2/-0.8) (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)] x 10^20 y. Measured two-neutrino double-beta decay half-life times to excited states can be used to test the reliability of nuclear matrix element calculations needed for determining the effective neutrino mass from zero-neutrino double-beta decay data. We also present new limits for transitions to higher excited states in Ru-100 which, if improved, may be of interest for more exotic conjectures, like a bosonic component to neutrino statistics.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2008

Double beta decay: present status

The present status of double beta decay experiments (including the search for $2β^{+}$, EC$β^{+}$ and ECEC processes) are reviewed. The results of the most sensitive experiments are discussed. Average and recommended half-life values for two-neutrino double beta decay are presented. Conservative upper limits on effective Majorana neutrino mass and the coupling constant of the Majoron to the neutrino are established as $ < 0.75$ eV and $ < 1.9 \cdot 10^{-4}$, respectively. Proposals for future double beta decay experiments with a sensitivity for the $ $ at the level of (0.01-0.1) eV are considered.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2008

NEMO 3 double beta decay experiment: latest results

The double beta decay experiment NEMO~3 has been taking data since February 2003. The aim of this experiment is to search for neutrinoless decay and investigate two neutrino double beta decay in seven different enriched isotopes ($^{100}$Mo,$^{82}$Se, $^{48}$Ca, $^{96}$Zr, $^{116}$Cd, $^{130}$Te and $^{150}$Nd). After analysis of the data corresponding to 693 days, no evidence for $0νββ$ decay in $^{100}$Mo and $^{82}$Se was found. The half-life limits at 90% C.L. are $5.8\cdot 10^{23}$ y and $2.1\cdot 10^{23}$ y, respectively. Using $\sim$ 940 days of data, preliminary results were obtained for $^{48}$Ca, $^{96}$Zr and $^{150}$Nd. For two neutrino decay half-life values were measured, $T_{1/2}(^{48}{\rm Ca}) = [4.4^{+0.5}_{-0.4}(stat) \pm 0.4(syst)] \cdot 10^{19}$ y, $T_{1/2}(^{96}{\rm Zr}) = [2.3 \pm 0.2(stat) \pm 0.3(syst)] \cdot 10^{19}$ y and $T_{1/2}(^{150}{\rm Nd}) = [9.2^{+0.25}_{-0.22}(stat) \pm 0.62(syst)] \cdot 10^{18}$ y. Also for $0νββ$ decay the following limits at 90% C.L. were obtained, $> 1.3 \cdot 10^{22}$ y for $^{48}$Ca, $> 8.6 \cdot 10^{21}$ y for $^{96}$Zr and > 1.8 \cdot 10^{22}$ y for $^{150}$Nd.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2008

Search for $β^+$EC and ECEC processes in $^{112}$Sn and $β^-β^-$ decay of $^{124}$Sn to the excited states of $^{124}$Te

Limits on $β^+$EC and ECEC processes in $^{112}$Sn and on $β^-β^-$ decay of $^{124}$Sn to the excited states of $^{124}$Te have been obtained using a 380 cm$^3$ HPGe detector and an external source consisting of natural tin. A limit with 90% C.L. on the $^{112}$Sn half-life of $0.92\times 10^{20}$ y for the ECEC(0$ν$) transition to the $0^+_3$ excited state in $^{112}$Cd (1871.0 keV) has been established. This transition is discussed in the context of a possible enhancement of the decay rate by several orders of magnitude given that the ECEC$(0ν)$ process is nearly degenerate with an excited state in the daughter nuclide. Prospects for investigating such a process in future experiments are discussed. The $β^-β^-$ decay limits for $^{124}$Sn to the excited states of $^{124}$Te were obtained on the level of $(0.8-1.2)\times 10^{21}$ y at the 90% C.L.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2007

Statistics of neutrinos and the double beta decay

We assume that the Pauli exclusion principle is violated for neutrinos, and thus, neutrinos obey at least partly the Bose-Einstein statistics. The parameter sin^2 chi is introduced that characterizes the bosonic (symmetric) fraction of the neutrino wave function. Consequences of the violation of the exclusion principle for the two-neutrino double beta decays are considered. This violation strongly changes the rates of the decays and modifies the energy and angular distributions of the emitted electrons. Pure bosonic neutrinos are excluded by the present data. In the case of partly bosonic (or mixed-statistics) neutrinos the analysis of the existing data allows to put the conservative upper bound sin^2 chi < 0.6. The sensitivity of future measurements of the two-neutrino double beta decay to sin^2 chi is evaluated.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Search for $β^+$EC and ECEC processes in $^{74}$Se

For the first time, limits on double-beta processes in $^{74}$Se have been obtained using a 400 cm$^3$ HPGe detector and an external source consisting of natural selenium powder. At a confidence level of 90%, they are $1.9\times 10^{18}$ y for the $β^+$EC$(0ν+ 2ν)$ transition to the ground state, $7.7\times 10^{18}$ y for the ECEC($2ν$) transition to the $2^+_1$ excited state in $^{74}$Ge (595.8 keV), $1.1\times 10^{19}$ y for the ECEC($0ν$) transition to the $2^+_1$ excited state in $^{74}$Ge (595.8 keV) and $5.5\times 10^{18}$ y for the ECEC($2ν$) and ECEC($0ν$) transitions to the $2^+_2$ excited state in $^{74}$Ge (1204.2 keV). The last transition is discussed in association with a possible enhancement of the decay rate, in this case by several orders of magnitude, because the ECEC$(0ν)$ process is nearly degenerate with an excited state in the daughter nuclide. Prospects for investigating such processes in future experiments are discussed.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2006

NEMO-3 double beta decay experiment: lastest results

Latest results on $0νββ$, $0νχ^0ββ$ and $2νββ$ decays of different isotopes from NEMO-3 double beta decay experiment are presented. In particular, new limits at 90% C.L. on neurtinoless double beta decay of $^{100}Mo$ and $^{82}Se$ have been obtained, $T_{1/2} > 5.8\times 10^{23}$ y and $T_{1/2} > 2.1\times 10^{23}$ y, respectively.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2006

Measurement of double beta decay of 100Mo to excited states in the NEMO 3 experiment

The double beta decay of 100Mo to the 0^+_1 and 2^+_1 excited states of 100Ru is studied using the NEMO 3 data. After the analysis of 8024 h of data the half-life for the two-neutrino double beta decay of 100Mo to the excited 0^+_1 state is measured to be T^(2nu)_1/2 = [5.7^{+1.3}_{-0.9}(stat)+/-0.8(syst)]x 10^20 y. The signal-to-background ratio is equal to 3. Information about energy and angular distributions of emitted electrons is also obtained. No evidence for neutrinoless double beta decay to the excited 0^+_1 state has been found. The corresponding half-life limit is T^(0nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 0^+_1) > 8.9 x 10^22 y (at 90% C.L.). The search for the double beta decay to the 2^+_1 excited state has allowed the determination of limits on the half-life for the two neutrino mode T^(2nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 2^+_1) > 1.1 x 10^21 y (at 90% C.L.) and for the neutrinoless mode T^(0nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 2^+_1) > 1.6 x 10^23 y (at 90% C.L.).

hep-ex↗
arXiv2006

Double beta decay experiments

The present status of double beta decay experiments are reviewed. The results of the most sensitive experiments, NEMO-3 and CUORICINO, are discussed. Proposals for future double beta decay experiments are considered. In these experiments sensitivity for the effective neutrino mass will be on the level of (0.1-0.01) eV.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2006

Average and recommended half-life values for two neutrino double beta decay: upgrade'05

All existing ``positive'' results on two neutrino double beta decay in different nuclei were analyzed. Using the procedure recommended by the Particle Data Group, weighted average values for half-lives of $^{48}$Ca, $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{96}$Zr, $^{100}$Mo, $^{100}$Mo - $^{100}$Ru ($0^+_1$), $^{116}$Cd, $^{150}$Nd, $^{150}$Nd - $^{150}$Sm ($0^+_1$) and $^{238}$U were obtained. Existing geochemical data were analyzed and recommended values for half-lives of $^{128}$Te, $^{130}$Te and $^{130}$Ba are proposed. We recommend the use of these results as presently the most precise and reliable values for half-lives.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2006

NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO double beta decay experiments

Latest results on $ββ0 ν$, $ββ0 νχ^0$ and $ββ2 ν$ decays of different isotopes from NEMO-3 double beta decay experiment are presented. In particular, new limits on neurtinoless double beta decay of $^{100}Mo$ and $^{82}Se$ have been obtained, $T_{1/2} > 4.6\times 10^{23}$ y and $T_{1/2} > 1\times 10^{23}$ y, respectively. A possible next step with SuperNEMO detector is discussed.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2005

Double Beta Decay of $^{100}$Mo to Excited Final States

A systematic study of the inclusive ($0ν+2ν$) double beta ($ββ$) decay of $^{100}$Mo to various excited final states of $^{100}$Ru was performed. Utilizing two large HPGe detectors operated in coincidence, a search for the subsequent deexcitation gamma-gamma cascades was conducted. A 1.05-kg sample of isotopically enriched (98.4%) $^{100}$Mo was investigated for 455 days, yielding an unambiguous observation of the double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo to the $0_1^+$ state (1130.3 keV) of $^{100}$Ru. This excited final state decays via the $0_1^+ \to 2_1^+ \to 0_{gs}^+$ sequence (with $E_{\gamma1}$ = 590.8 keV and $E_{\gamma2}$ = 539.5 keV), and 22 such coincidence events were detected, with a continuous background estimated to be 2.5 events. This counting rate corresponds to a decay half-life for the $ββ($0^+ rightarrow 0_1^+)$ transition of $T_{1/2}^{(0ν+2ν)} = [ 6.0^{+1.9}_{-1.1} (\rm{stat}) \pm 0.6(\rm{syst})] \times 10^{20}$ years. Lower limits on decay half-lives were achieved for higher excited final states.

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