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Register a new userExploring the Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay in the Inverted Neutrino Hierarchy with Bolometric Detectors
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Neutrinoless double beta decay (0nubb) is one of the most sensitive probes for physics beyond the Standard Model, providing unique information on the nature of neutrinos. In this paper we review the status and outlook for bolometric 0nubb decay searches. We summarize recent advances in background suppression demonstrated using bolometers with simultaneous readout of heat and light signals. We simulate several configurations of a future CUORE-like bolometer array which would utilize these improvements and present the sensitivity reach of a hypothetical next-generation bolometric 0nubb experiment. We demonstrate that a bolometric experiment with the isotope mass of about 1 ton is capable of reaching the sensitivity to the effective Majorana neutrino mass (|mee|) of order 10-20 meV, thus completely exploring the so-called inverted neutrino mass hierarchy region. We highlight the main challenges and identify priorities for an R&D program addressing them.
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We quantify the extent to which future experiments will test the existence of neutrinoless double-beta decay mediated by light neutrinos with inverted-ordered masses. While it remains difficult to compare measurements performed with different isotopes, we find that future searches will fully test the inverted ordering scenario, as a global, multi-isotope endeavor. They will also test other possible mechanisms driving the decay, including a large uncharted region of the allowed parameter space assuming that neutrino masses follow the normal ordering.
The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment searched for the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-$beta$ ($0 ubetabeta$) decay of $^{76}$Ge, whose discovery would have far-reaching implications in cosmology and particle physics. By operating bare germanium diodes, enriched in $^{76}$Ge, in an active liquid argon shield, GERDA achieved an unprecedently low background index of $5.2times10^{-4}$ counts/(keV$cdot$kg$cdot$yr) in the signal region and met the design goal to collect an exposure of 100 kg$cdot$yr in a background-free regime. When combined with the result of Phase I, no signal is observed after 127.2 kg$cdot$yr of total exposure. A limit on the half-life of $0 ubetabeta$ decay in $^{76}$Ge is set at $T_{1/2}>1.8times10^{26}$ yr at 90% C.L., which coincides with the sensitivity assuming no signal.
We report the results of a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in a 9.8~kg$cdot$yr exposure of $^{130}$Te using a bolometric detector array, CUORE-0. The characteristic detector energy resolution and background level in the region of interest are $5.1pm 0.3{rm~keV}$ FWHM and $0.058 pm 0.004,(mathrm{stat.})pm 0.002,(mathrm{syst.})$~counts/(keV$cdot$kg$cdot$yr), respectively. The median 90%~C.L. lower-limit sensitivity of the experiment is $2.9times 10^{24}~{rm yr}$ and surpasses the sensitivity of previous searches. We find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{130}$Te and place a Bayesian lower bound on the decay half-life, $T^{0 u}_{1/2}>$~$ 2.7times 10^{24}~{rm yr}$ at 90%~C.L. Combining CUORE-0 data with the 19.75~kg$cdot$yr exposure of $^{130}$Te from the Cuoricino experiment we obtain $T^{0 u}_{1/2} > 4.0times 10^{24}~mathrm{yr}$ at 90%~C.L.~(Bayesian), the most stringent limit to date on this half-life. Using a range of nuclear matrix element estimates we interpret this as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, $m_{betabeta}< 270$ -- $760~mathrm{meV}$.
The Standard Model of particle physics cannot explain the dominance of matter over anti-matter in our Universe. In many model extensions this is a very natural consequence of neutrinos being their own anti-particles (Majorana particles) which implies that a lepton number violating radioactive decay named neutrinoless double beta ($0 ubetabeta$) decay should exist. The detection of this extremely rare hypothetical process requires utmost suppression of any kind of backgrounds. The GERDA collaboration searches for $0 ubetabeta$ decay of $^{76}$Ge ($^{76}rm{Ge} rightarrow,^{76}rm{Se} + 2e^-$) by operating bare detectors made from germanium with enriched $^{76}$Ge fraction in liquid argon. Here, we report on first data of GERDA Phase II. A background level of $approx10^{-3}$ cts/(keV$cdot$kg$cdot$yr) has been achieved which is the world-best if weighted by the narrow energy-signal region of germanium detectors. Combining Phase I and II data we find no signal and deduce a new lower limit for the half-life of $5.3cdot10^{25}$ yr at 90 % C.L. Our sensitivity of $4.0cdot10^{25}$ yr is competitive with the one of experiments with significantly larger isotope mass. GERDA is the first $0 ubetabeta$ experiment that will be background-free up to its design exposure. This progress relies on a novel active veto system, the superior germanium detector energy resolution and the improved background recognition of our new detectors. The unique discovery potential of an essentially background-free search for $0 ubetabeta$ decay motivates a larger germanium experiment with higher sensitivity.
We describe in detail the methods used to obtain the lower bound on the lifetime of neutrinoless double-beta ($0 ubetabeta$) decay in $^{130}$Te and the associated limit on the effective Majorana mass of the neutrino using the CUORE-0 detector. CUORE-0 is a bolometric detector array located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso that was designed to validate the background reduction techniques developed for CUORE, a next-generation experiment scheduled to come online in 2016. CUORE-0 is also a competitive $0 ubetabeta$ decay search in its own right and functions as a platform to further develop the analysis tools and procedures to be used in CUORE. These include data collection, event selection and processing, as well as an evaluation of signal efficiency. In particular, we describe the amplitude evaluation, thermal gain stabilization, energy calibration methods, and the analysis event selection used to create our final $0 ubetabeta$ decay search spectrum. We define our high level analysis procedures, with emphasis on the new insights gained and challenges encountered. We outline in detail our fitting methods near the hypothesized $0 ubetabeta$ decay peak and catalog the main sources of systematic uncertainty. Finally, we derive the $0 ubetabeta$ decay half-life limits previously reported for CUORE-0, $T^{0 u}_{1/2}>2.7times10^{24}$ yr, and in combination with the Cuoricino limit, $T^{0 u}_{1/2}>4.0times10^{24}$ yr.
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