Quest for double beta decay of 160-Gd and Ce isotopes
F.A. Danevich, V.V. Kobychev, O.A. Ponkratenko, V.I. Tretyak, Yu.G. Zdesenko
Abstract
The double beta decay study of 160-Gd has been performed in the Solotvina Underground Laboratory with the help of Gd_2SiO_5(Ce) crystal scintillator (volume 95 cc). The background of the detector in the vicinity of the 2 beta energy of 160-Gd was reduced to 1.0 cpd/keV kg. The new improved half-life limits have been established for neutrinoless 2 beta decay of 160-Gd to the ground and first excited levels of 160-Dy: T1/2 > 2.3(1.3)E21 yr at 68%(90%) C.L. The T1/2 bounds have been also set for two neutrino mode as well as for 2 beta decay with Majorons emission. Also the limits were established for different 2 beta decay processes in 136-Ce, 138-Ce and 142-Ce.