Search for nucleon decays with EXO-200

Abstract

A search for instability of nucleons bound in ${}^{136}$Xe nuclei is reported with 223 kg$\cdot$yr exposure of ${}^{136}$Xe in the EXO-200 experiment. Lifetime limits of 3.3$\times 10^{23}$ and 1.9$\times 10^{23}$ yrs are established for nucleon decay to ${}^{133}$Sb and ${}^{133}$Te, respectively. These are the most stringent to date, exceeding the prior decay limits by a factor of 9 and 7, respectively.