D. Yokoyama

Neutrino-less double-β decay of 48Ca studied by CaF2(Eu) scintillators

We searched for the neutrino-less double-β decay(0νββ) of 48 Ca by using CaF 2 (Eu) scintillators. Analysis of their pulse shapes was effective to reduce backgrounds. No events are observed in the Q ββ value region for the data of 3394 kg day. It gives a lower limit (90% confidence level) of T 0νββ ½ > 2.7 x 10 22 year for the half-life of 0νββ of 48 Ca. Combined with our previous data for 1553 kg day [I. Ogawa et al., Nucl. Phys. A730, 215 (2004)], we obtained a more stringent limit of T 0νββ ½ > 5.8 × 10 22 year.

CANDLES for double beta decay of 48Ca

CANDLES is the project to search for neutrinoless double beta(0νββ) decay of 48Ca by using CaF2 scintillators. The observation of 0νββ decay will prove existence of a massive Majorana neutrino. The expected performances of the CANDLES system for lightsignal detection and background rejection are presented here. The current status of development for the detector system is also described.

Neutrino-less double-beta decay of Ca-48 studied by Ca F(2)(Eu) scintillators

We searched for the neutrino-less double-β decay(0νββ) of 48 Ca by using CaF 2 (Eu) scintillators. Analysis of their pulse shapes was effective to reduce backgrounds. No events are observed in the Q ββ value region for the data of 3394 kg day. It gives a lower limit (90% confidence level) of T 0νββ ½ > 2.7 x 10 22 year for the half-life of 0νββ of 48 Ca. Combined with our previous data for 1553 kg day [I. Ogawa et al., Nucl. Phys. A730, 215 (2004)], we obtained a more stringent limit of T 0νββ ½ > 5.8 × 10 22 year.

Neutrino-less double-βdecay ofCa48studied byCaF2(Eu) scintillators

We searched for the neutrino-less double-β decay(0νββ) of 48 Ca by using CaF 2 (Eu) scintillators. Analysis of their pulse shapes was effective to reduce backgrounds. No events are observed in the Q ββ value region for the data of 3394 kg day. It gives a lower limit (90% confidence level) of T 0νββ ½ > 2.7 x 10 22 year for the half-life of 0νββ of 48 Ca. Combined with our previous data for 1553 kg day [I. Ogawa et al., Nucl. Phys. A730, 215 (2004)], we obtained a more stringent limit of T 0νββ ½ > 5.8 × 10 22 year.

Neutrino-less double-{beta} decay of {sup 48}Ca studied by CaF{sub 2}(Eu) scintillators

We searched for the neutrino-less double-β decay(0νββ) of 48 Ca by using CaF 2 (Eu) scintillators. Analysis of their pulse shapes was effective to reduce backgrounds. No events are observed in the Q ββ value region for the data of 3394 kg day. It gives a lower limit (90% confidence level) of T 0νββ ½ > 2.7 x 10 22 year for the half-life of 0νββ of 48 Ca. Combined with our previous data for 1553 kg day [I. Ogawa et al., Nucl. Phys. A730, 215 (2004)], we obtained a more stringent limit of T 0νββ ½ > 5.8 × 10 22 year.

Double beta decay of 48Ca studied by CaF2(Eu) scintillators

We report the new limit on the half-life of neutrino-less double beta decay(0νββ) of 48Ca. In order to achieve the background free measurement, measurement of pulse shape was essential. We have observed no event in the Qββ-value region. We set the new limit on 0νββ half-life as T0νββ1/2 > 40 × 1022 year.

Low Radioactivity in CANDLES

CANDLES is the project to search for double beta decay of 48Ca by using CaF2 crystals. Double beta decay of 48Ca has the highest Q value among all nuclei whose double beta decay is energetically allowed. This feature makes the study almost background free and becomes important once the study is limited by the backgrounds. We studied double beta decays of 48Ca by using ELEGANTS VI detector system which features CaF2(Eu) crystals. We gave the best limit on the lifetime of neutrino‐less double beta decay of 48Ca although further development is vital to reach the neutrino mass of current interest for which CANDLES is designed. In this article we present how CANDLES can achieve low radioactivity, which is the key for the future double beta decay experiment.