No Arabic abstract
The ($^{11}$B,$^{11}$Li) double charge-exchange reaction (DCER) at $E(^{11}$B)/$A$=80 MeV was measured for the first time to demonstrate the feasibility of the reaction for studying neutrino nuclear responses for double beta decays (DBD). The $^{13}$C($^{11}$B,$^{11}$Li)$^{13}$O reaction shows strengths at the ground state and low and high excitation giant resonance regions. The $^{56}$Fe ($^{11}$B,$^{11}$Li) $^{56}$Ni reaction shows the large strengths in the possible double giant resonance region and beyond, but shows no strengths in the low excitation region below 5 MeV, suggesting strong concentration of the DBD strength at the high excitation region. The DCER is used to evaluate the spin isospin strengths relevant to DBD responses.
Coincidences between charged particles emitted in the $beta$-decay of $^{11}$Li were observed using highly segmented detectors. The breakup channels involving three particles were studied in full kinematics allowing for the reconstruction of the excitation energy of the $^{11}$Be states participating in the decay. In particular, the contribution of a previously unobserved state at 16.3 MeV in $^{11}$Be has been identified selecting the $alpha$ + $^7$He$toalpha$ + $^6$He+n channel. The angular correlations between the $alpha$ particle and the center of mass of the $^6$He+n system favors spin and parity assignment of 3/2$^-$ for this state as well as for the previously known state at 18 MeV.
The kinematics of two-neutron emission following the $beta$-decay of $^{11}$Li was investigated for the first time by detecting the two neutrons in coincidence and by measuring their angle and energy. An array of liquid-scintillator neutron detectors was used to reject cosmic-ray and $gamma$-ray backgrounds by pulse-shape discrimination. Cross-talk events in which two detectors are fired by a single neutron were rejected using a filter tested on the $beta$-1n emitter $^9$Li. A large cross-talk rejection rate is obtained ($> 95 %$) over most of the energy range of interest. Application to $^{11}$Li data leads to a significant number of events interpreted as $beta$-2n decay. A discrete neutron line at $approx$ 2 MeV indicates sequential two-neutron emission, possibly from the unbound state at 10.6 MeV excitation energy in $^{11}$Be.
We present the results obtained in the development of scintillating Double Beta Decay bolometers. Several Mo and Cd based crystals were tested with the bolometric technique. The scintillation light was measured through a second independent bolometer. A 140 g CdWO_4 crystal was run in a 417 h live time measurement. Thanks to the scintillation light, the alpha background is easily discriminated resulting in zero counts above the 2615 keV gamma line of Thallium 208. These results, combined with an extremely easy light detector operation, represent the first tangible proof demonstrating the feasibility of this kind of technique.
In the field of Double Beta Decay (DBD) searches the possibility to have high resolution detectors in which background can be discriminated is very appealing. This very interesting possibility can be largely fulfilled in the case of a scintillating bolometer containing a Double Beta Decay emitter whose transition energy exceeds the one of the natural gamma line of 208Tl. We present the latest results obtained in the development of such a kind of scintillating bolometer. For the first time an array of five CdWO4 (116Cd has a Double Beta Decay transition energy of 2805 keV) crystals is tested. The array consists of a plane of four 3x3x3 cm3 crystals and a second plane consisting of a single 3x3x6 cm3 crystal. This setup is mounted in hall C of the National Laboratory of Gran Sasso inside a lead shielding in order to reduce as far as possible the environmental background. The aim of this test is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of this technique through an array of detectors and perform a long background measurement in the best conditions in order to prove the achievable background in the Zero neutrino-DBD region.
$^{48}$Ca, the lightest double beta decay candidate, is the only one simple enough to be treated exactly in the nuclear shell model. Thus, the $betabeta(2 u)$ half-life measurement, reported here, provides a unique test of the nuclear physics involved in the $betabeta$ matrix element calculation. Enriched $^{48}$Ca sources of two different thicknesses have been exposed in a time projection chamber, and yield T$_{1/2}^{2 u} = (4.3^{+2.4}_{-1.1} [{rm stat.}] pm 1.4 [{rm syst.}]) times 10^{19}$ years, compatible with the shell model calculations.