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We used a high-resolution magnetic spectrograph to study neutron pair-correlated $0^+$ states in $^{136}$Ba, produced via the $^{138}{rm Ba}(p,t)$ reaction. In conjunction with state-of-the-art shell model calculations, these data benchmark part of the dominant Gamow-Teller component of the nuclear matrix element (NME) for $^{136}$Xe neutrinoless double beta ($0 ubetabeta$) decay. We demonstrate for the first time an evaluation of part of a $0 ubetabeta$ decay NME by use of an experimental observable, presenting a new avenue of approach for more accurate calculations of $0 ubetabeta$ decay matrix elements.
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Background: The $^{136}$Ba isotope is the daughter nucleus in $^{136}$Xe $betabeta$ decay. It also lies in a shape transitional region of the nuclear chart, making it a suitable candidate to test a variety of nuclear models. Purpose: To obtain spectroscopic information on states in $^{136}$Ba, which will allow a better understanding of its low-lying structure. These data may prove useful to constrain future $^{136}$Xe $to$ $^{136}$Ba neutrinoless $betabeta$ decay matrix element calculations. Methods: A $^{138}mathrm{Ba}(p,t)$ reaction was used to populate states in $^{136}$Ba up to approximately 4.6 MeV in excitation energy. The tritons were detected using a high-resolution Q3D magnetic spectrograph. A distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) analysis was performed for the measured triton angular distributions. Results: One hundred and two excited states in $^{136}$Ba were observed, out of which fifty two are reported for the first time. Definite spin-parity assignments are made for twenty six newly observed states, while previously ambiguous assignments for twelve other states are resolved.
The change in the configuration of valence protons between the initial and final states in the neutrinoless double-$beta$ decay of $^{130}$Te $rightarrow$ $^{130}$Xe and of $^{136}$Xe $rightarrow$ $^{136}$Ba has been determined by measuring the cross sections of the ($d$,$^3$He) reaction with 101-MeV deuterons. Together with our recent determination of the relevant neutron configurations involved in the process, a quantitative comparison with the latest shell-model and interacting-boson-model calculations reveals significant discrepancies. These are the same calculations used to determine the nuclear matrix elements governing the rate of neutrinoless double-$beta$ decay in these systems.
A quantitative description of the change in ground-state neutron occupancies between $^{136}$Xe and $^{136}$Ba, the initial and final state in the neutrinoless double-$beta$ decay of $^{136}$Xe, has been extracted from precision measurements of the cross sections of single-neutron adding and -removing reactions. Comparisons are made to recent theoretical calculations of the same properties using various nuclear-structure models. These are the same calculations used to determine the magnitude of the nuclear matrix elements for the process, which at present disagree with each other by factors of 2 or 3. The experimental neutron occupancies show some disagreement with the theoretical calculations.
We report on a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{136}$Xe with EXO-200. No signal is observed for an exposure of 32.5 kg-yr, with a background of ~1.5 x 10^{-3} /(kg yr keV) in the $pm 1sigma$ region of interest. This sets a lower limit on the half-life of the neutrinoless double-beta decay $T_{1/2}^{0 ubetabeta}$($^{136}$Xe) > 1.6 x 10$^{25}$ yr (90% CL), corresponding to effective Majorana masses of less than 140-380 meV, depending on the matrix element calculation.
We performed a high resolution study of $0^{+}$ states in $^{134}$Ba using the $^{136}$Ba($p,t$) two-neutron transfer reaction. Our experiment shows a significant portion of the $L = 0$ pair-transfer strength concentrated at excited $0^+$ levels in $^{134}$Ba. Potential implications in the context of $^{136}$Xe $to$ $^{136}$Ba neutrinoless double beta decay matrix element calculations are briefly discussed.
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