Observation of Two-Neutrino Double-Beta Decay in Xe-136 with EXO-200

Journal Article · Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Phys.Rev.Lett.107:212501,2011

OSTI ID:1050858

Ackerman, N; Aharmim, B; Auger, M; Auty, D J; Barbeau, P S; Barry, K; Bartoszek, L; Beauchamp, E; Belov, V; Benitez-Medina, C; Breidenbach, M; Burenkov, A; Cleveland, B; Conley, R; Conti, E; Cook, J; Cook, S; Coppens, A; Counts, I; Craddock, W ; Daniels, T

We report the observation of two-neutrino double-beta decay in {sup 136}Xe with T{sub 1/2} = 2.11 {+-} 0.04(stat) {+-} 0.21(syst) x 10{sup 21} yr. This second-order process, predicted by the standard model, has been observed for several nuclei but not for {sup 136}Xe. The observed decay rate provides new input to matrix element calculations and to the search for the more interesting neutrinoless double-beta decay, the most sensitive probe for the existence of Majorana particles and the measurement of the neutrino mass scale.

• Research Organization: SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1050858
• Report Number(s): SLAC-PUB-15002; PRLTAO; arXiv:1108.4193; TRN: US1204674
• Journal Information: Phys.Rev.Lett.107:212501,2011, Vol. 107, Issue 21; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DECAY
MATRIX ELEMENTS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEI
PROBES
STANDARD MODEL
Experiment-HEP
Experiment-Nucl
HEPEX
INST