No Arabic abstract
Double beta processes in 64-Zn, 70-Zn, 180-W, and 186-W have been searched for with the help of large volume (0.1-0.7 kg) low background ZnWO4 crystal scintillators at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN. Total time of measurements exceeds 10 thousands hours. New improved half-life limits on double electron capture and electron capture with positron emission in 64-Zn have been set, in particular (all the limits are at 90% C.L.): T1/2(0nu2EC)> 1.1e20 yr, T1/2(2nuECbeta+)>7.0e20 yr, and T1/2(0nuECbeta+)>4.3e20 yr. The different modes of double beta processes in 70-Zn, 180-W, and 186-W have been restricted at the level of 1e17-1e20 yr.
A search for the double beta decay of zinc and tungsten isotopes has been performed with the help of radiopure ZnWO4 crystal scintillators (0.1-0.7 kg) at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN. The total exposure of the low background measurements is 0.529 kg yr. New improved half-life limits on the double beta decay modes of 64Zn, 70Zn, 180W, and 186W have been established at the level of 10^{18}-10^{21} yr. In particular, limits on double electron capture and electron capture with positron emission in 64Zn have been set: T_{1/2}(2 u 2K) > 1.1 10^{19} yr, T_{1/2} (0 u 2epsilon) > 3.2 10^{20} yr, T_{1/2} (2 u epsilon beta^+) > 9.4 10^{20} yr, and T_{1/2} (0 u epsilon beta^+) > 8.5 10^{20} yr, all at 90% C.L. Resonant neutrinoless double electron capture in 180W has been restricted on the level of T_{1/2} (0 u 2epsilon) > 1.3 10^{18} yr. A new half-life limit on alpha transition of 183W to the metastable excited level 1/2^- 375 keV of 179Hf has been established: T_{1/2} > 6.7 10^{20} yr.
A search for the double beta processes in 106Cd was carried out at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy) with the help of a 106CdWO4 crystal scintillator (215 g) enriched in 106Cd up to 66%. After 6590 h of data taking, new improved half-life limits on the double beta processes in 106Cd were established at the level of 10^{19}-10^{21} yr; in particular, T_{1/2}(2 u epsilon beta^+) > 2.1 10^{20} yr, T_{1/2}(2 u 2beta^+) > 4.3 10^{20} yr, and T_{1/2}(0 u 2epsilon) > 1.0 10^{21} yr. The resonant neutrinoless double electron captures to the 2718 keV, 2741 keV and 2748 keV excited states of 106Pd are restricted to T_{1/2}(0 u 2K) > 4.3 10^{20} yr, T_{1/2}(0 u KL1) > 9.5 10^{20} yr and T_{1/2}(0 u KL3) > 4.3 10^{20} yr, respectively (all limits at 90% C.L.). A possible resonant enhancement of the 0 u 2epsilon processes is estimated in the framework of the QRPA approach. The radioactive contamination of the 106CdWO4 crystal scintillator is reported.
A cadmium tungstate crystal boule enriched in $^{116}$Cd to 82% with mass of 1868 g was grown by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique. The isotopic composition of cadmium and the trace contamination of the crystal were estimated by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometry. The crystal scintillators produced from the boule were subjected to characterization that included measurements of transmittance and energy resolution. A low background scintillation detector with two $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ crystal scintillators (586 g and 589 g) was developed. The detector was running over 1727 h deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy), which allowed to estimate the radioactive contamination of the enriched crystal scintillators. The radiopurity of a third $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ sample (326 g) was tested with the help of ultra-low background high purity germanium $gamma$ detector. Monte Carlo simulations of double $beta$ processes in $^{116}$Cd were used to estimate the sensitivity of an experiment to search for double $beta$ decay of $^{116}$Cd.
The radioactive contamination of ZnWO4 crystal scintillators has been measured deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN in Italy with a total exposure 3197 kg x h. Monte Carlo simulation, time-amplitude and pulse-shape analyses of the data have been applied to estimate the radioactive contamination of the ZnWO4 samples. One of the ZnWO4 crystals has also been tested by ultra-low background gamma spectrometry. The radioactive contaminations of the ZnWO4 samples do not exceed 0.002 -- 0.8 mBq/kg (depending on the radionuclide), the total alpha activity is in the range: 0.2 - 2 mBq/kg. Particular radioactivity, beta active 65Zn and alpha active 180W, has been detected. The effect of the re-crystallization on the radiopurity of the ZnWO4 crystal has been studied. The radioactive contamination of samples of the ceramic details of the set-ups used in the crystals growth has been checked by low background gamma spectrometry. A project scheme on further improvement of the radiopurity level of the ZnWO4 crystal scintillators is briefly addressed.
PbWO4 crystal scintillators are discussed as an active shield and light-guides in 116Cd double beta decay experiment with CdWO4 scintillators. Scintillation properties and radioactive contamination of PbWO4 scintillators were investigated. Energy resolution of CdWO4 detector, coupled to PbWO4 crystal as a light-guide, was tested. Efficiency of PbWO4-based active shield to suppress background from the internal contamination of PbWO4 crystals was calculated. Using of lead tungstate crystal scintillators as high efficiency 4-pi active shield could allow to build sensitive double beta experiment with 116CdWO4 crystal scintillators.