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Title: Search for rare alpha and double beta decays of Yb isotopes to excited levels of daughter nuclei

Journal Article · · European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4]
  1. INFN-Lab. Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Assergi (Italy)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Kingston, ON (Canada)
  4. Technische Univ. München (Germany); Queen's Univ., Kingston, ON (Canada)

A search for alpha and double beta decays of ytterbium isotopes was performed with an ultra low-background high purity germanium detector at Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory (Italy). A 194.7 g Yb2(C2O4)3 powder sample was measured for 11.3 days with a total Yb exposure of 1.25 kg×day. Half-life limits for α-decay modes of 168Yb, 170Yb, 171Yb, 172Yb, 173Yb, 174Yb and 176Yb into the first excited states have been obtained between 6 × 1014 years and 2 × 1016 years. These are the first experimental constraints of these decay modes. Double electron capture of 168Yb and double beta decay of 176Yb into the first excited 2+ and 0+ states could be excluded with limits between 1 × 1014 years to 8 × 1016 years. This improves the experimental information on some of the decay modes compared to previous constraints.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1853952
Journal Information:
European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields, Vol. 82, Issue 1; ISSN 1434-6044
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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