First scintillating bolometer tests of a CLYMENE R&D on Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ scintillators towards a large-scale double-beta decay experiment

Abstract

A new R&D on lithium molybdate scintillators has begun within a project CLYMENE (Czochralski growth of Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ crYstals for the scintillating boloMeters used in the rare EveNts sEarches). One of the main goals of the CLYMENE is a realization of a Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ crystal growth line to be complementary to the one recently developed by LUMINEU in view of a mass production capacity for CUPID, a next-generation tonne-scale bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. In the present paper we report the investigation of performance and radiopurity of 158-g and 13.5-g scintillating bolometers based on a first large-mass (230 g) Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ crystal scintillator developed within the CLYMENE project. In particular, a good energy resolution (2--7 keV FWHM in the energy range of 0.2--5 MeV), one of the highest light yield (0.97 keV/MeV) amongst Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ scintillating bolometers, an efficient alpha particles discrimination (10$\sigma$) and potentially low internal radioactive contamination (below 0.2--0.3 mBq/kg of U/Th, but 1.4 mBq/kg of ${}^{210}$Po) demonstrate prospects of the CLYMENE in the development of high quality and radiopure Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ scintillators for CUPID.

arXiv comment13 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• Final result of CUPID-0 phase-I in the search for the ${}^{82}$Se Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay
• Analysis of cryogenic calorimeters with light and heat read-out for double beta decay searches
• Search of the neutrino-less double beta decay of ${}^{82}$Se into the excited states of ${}^{82}$Kr with CUPID-0
• Cosmogenic activation in double beta decay experiments
• Search for Neutrino-less Double Beta Decay of ${}^{64}$Zn and ${}^{70}$Zn with CUPID-0
• Test of ${}^{116}$CdWO${}_4$ and Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ scintillating bolometers in the CROSS underground facility with upgraded detector suspension
• Double Beta Decay Experiments at Canfranc Underground Laboratory