First test of a $\mathrm{CdMo}{\mathrm{O}}_4$ scintillating bolometer for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments with ${}^{116}\mathrm{Cd}$ and ${}^{100}\mathrm{Mo}$ nuclides

Abstract

A large cylindrical cadmium molybdate crystal with natural isotopic abundance has been used to fabricate a scintillating bolometer. The measurement was performed above ground at milli-Kelvin temperature, with simultaneous readout of the heat and the scintillation light. The energy resolution as FWHM has achieved from 5 keV (at 238 keV) to 13 keV (at 2615 keV). We present the results of the $\hat{I}\pm$ versus ${\hat{I}}^2$/${\hat{I}}^3$ events discrimination. The low internal trace contamination of the $\mathrm{CdMo}{\mathrm{O}}_4$ crystal was evaluated as well. The detector performance with preliminary positive indications proves that cadmium molybdate crystal is a promising absorber for neutrinoless double beta decay scintillating bolometric experiments with ${}^{116}\mathrm{Cd}$ and ${}^{100}\mathrm{Mo}$ nuclides in the next-generation technique.