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

Abstract

Limits on ${\beta }^{+}$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$\nu$) 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$(0\nu )$ 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 ${\beta }^{+}$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.

14 pages, 4 figures

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