Double-beta decay investigation with highly pure enriched ${}^{82}$Se for the LUCIFER experiment

Abstract

The LUCIFER project aims at deploying the first array of enriched scintillating bolometers for the investigation of neutrinoless double-beta decay of ${}^{82}$Se. The matrix which embeds the source is an array of ZnSe crystals, where enriched ${}^{82}$Se is used as decay isotope. The radiopurity of the initial components employed for manufacturing crystals, that can be operated as bolometers, is crucial for achieving a null background level in the region of interest for double-beta decay investigations. In this work, we evaluated the radioactive content in 2.5 kg of 96.3\% enriched ${}^{82}$Se metal, measured with a high-purity germanium detector at the Gran Sasso deep underground laboratory. The limits on internal contaminations of primordial decay chain elements of ${}^{232}$Th, ${}^{238}$U and ${}^{235}$U are respectively: $<$61 $\mu$Bq/kg, $<$110 $\mu$Bq/kg and $<$74 $\mu$Bq/kg at 90\% C.L.. The extremely low-background conditions in which the measurement was carried out and the high radiopurity of the ${}^{82}$Se allowed us to establish the most stringent lower limits on the half-lives of double-beta decay of ${}^{82}$Se to 0${}_1^{+}$, 2${}_2^{+}$ and 2${}_1^{+}$ excited states of ${}^{82}$Kr of 3.4$\cdot$10${}^{22}$ y, 1.3$\cdot$10${}^{22}$ y and 1.0$\cdot$10${}^{22}$ y, respectively, with a 90\% C.L..

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Cited by in corpus (24)

• Status and Future of Nuclear Matrix Elements for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay: A Review
• Final result of CUPID-0 phase-I in the search for the ${}^{82}$Se Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay
• First array of enriched Zn${}^{82}$Se bolometers to search for double beta decay
• CUPID-0: the first array of enriched scintillating bolometers for 0νββdecay investigations
• Background Model of the CUPID-0 Experiment
• Evidence of Single State Dominance in the Two-Neutrino Double-$\beta$ Decay of Se-82 with CUPID-0
• Final Result on the Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of ${}^{82}$Se with CUPID-0
• Low background techniques in bolometers for double-beta decay search
• Production of 82Se enriched Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) crystals for the study of neutrinoless double beta decay
• Analysis of cryogenic calorimeters with light and heat read-out for double beta decay searches
• Extracting Majorana Properties in the Throat of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay
• Search of the neutrino-less double beta decay of ${}^{82}$Se into the excited states of ${}^{82}$Kr with CUPID-0
• Main features of detectors and isotopes to investigate double beta decay with increased sensitivity
• Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay with ${}^{82}$SeF${}_6$ and Direct Ion Imaging
• Cosmogenic activation in double beta decay experiments
• Double Beta Decay to the Excited States: Review
• Search for Neutrino-less Double Beta Decay of ${}^{64}$Zn and ${}^{70}$Zn with CUPID-0
• A high-resolution CMOS imaging detector for the search of neutrinoless double $\beta$ decay in ${}^{82}$Se
• Search for double $\beta$-decay modes of ${}^{64}$Zn using purified zinc
• Search for the double-beta decay of 82Se to the excited states of 82Kr with NEMO-3
• Double Beta Decay Experiments at Canfranc Underground Laboratory
• New limit for the half-life of double beta decay of ${}^{94}$Zr to the first excited state of ${}^{94}$Mo
• First limits on double beta decays in ${}^{232}$Th
• Measurement of the $2\nu \beta \beta$ decay rate and spectral shape of ${}^{100}$Mo from the CUPID-Mo experiment