Title: The CUPID-Mo experiment for neutrinoless double-beta decay: performance and prospects

Abstract

CUPID-Mo is a bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($$0\nu\beta\beta$$) of $$^{100}$$Mo. In this article, we detail the CUPID-Mo detector concept, assembly, installation in the underground laboratory in Modane in 2018, and provide results from the first datasets. The demonstrator consists of an array of 20 scintillating bolometers comprised of $$^{100}$$Mo-enriched 0.2 kg Li$$_2$$MoO$$_4$$ crystals. The detectors are complemented by 20 thin cryogenic Ge bolometers acting as light detectors to distinguish $$\alpha$$ from $$\gamma$$/$$\beta$$ events by the detection of both heat and scintillation light signals. We observe good detector uniformity, facilitating the operation of a large detector array as well as excellent energy resolution of 5.3 keV (6.5 keV) FWHM at 2615 keV, in calibration (physics) data. Based on the observed energy resolutions and light yields a separation of $$\alpha$$ particles at much better than 99.9\% with equally high acceptance for $$\gamma$$/$$\beta$$ events is expected for events in the region of interest for $$^{100}$$Mo $$0\nu\beta\beta$$. We present limits on the crystals' radiopurity ($$\leq$$3 $$\mu$$Bq/kg of $$^{226}$$Ra and $$\leq$$2 $$\mu$$Bq/kg of $$^{232}$$Th). Based on these initial results we also discuss a sensitivity study for the science reach of the CUPID-Mo experiment, in particular, the ability to set the most stringent half-life limit on the $$^{100}$$Mo $$0\nu\beta\beta$$ decay after half a year of livetime. In conclusion, the achieved results show that CUPID-Mo is a successful demonstrator of the technology - developed in the framework of the LUMINEU project - selected for the CUPID experiment, a proposed follow-up of CUORE, the currently running first tonne-scale cryogenic $$0\nu\beta\beta$$ experiment.

Authors:

Armengaud, E.; Augier, C.; Barabash, A. S.; Bellini, F.; Benato, G.; Benoît, A.; Beretta, M.; Bergé, L.; Billard, J.; Borovlev, Yu. A.; Bourgeois, Ch.; Briere, M.; Brudanin, V. B.; Camus, P.; Cardani, L.; Casali, N.; Cazes, A.; Chapellier, M.; Charlieux, F.; de Combarieu, M. more »; Dafinei, I.; Danevich, F. A.; De Jesus, M.; Dumoulin, L.; Eitel, K.; Elkhoury, E.; Ferri, F.; Fujikawa, B. K.; Gascon, J.; Gironi, L.; Giuliani, A. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Giuliani, A."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0515-3773"
• Search orcid.org for ORCID "0000-0002-0515-3773"

Grigorieva, V. D.; Gros, M.; Guerard, E.; Helis, D. L.; Huang, H. Z.; Huang, R.; Johnston, J.; Juillard, A.; Khalife, H.; Kleifges, M.; Kobychev, V. V.; Kolomensky, Yu. G.; Konovalov, S. I.; Leder, A.; Loaiza, P.; Ma, L.; Makarov, E. P.; de Marcillac, P.; Marini, L.; Marnieros, S.; Misiak, D.; Navick, X. -F.; Nones, C.; Novati, V.; Olivieri, E.; Ouellet, J. L.; Pagnanini, L.; Pari, P.; Pattavina, L.; Paul, B.; Pavan, M.; Peng, H.; Pessina, G.; Pirro, S.; Poda, D. V.; Polischuk, O. G.; Previtali, E.; Redon, Th.; Rozov, S.; Rusconi, C.; Sanglard, V.; Schäffner, K.; Schmidt, B.; Shen, Y.; Shlegel, V. N.; Siebenborn, B.; Singh, V.; Sorbino, S.; Tomei, C.; Tretyak, V. I.; Umatov, V. I.; Vagneron, L.; Velázquez, M.; Weber, M.; Welliver, B.; Winslow, L.; Xue, M.; Yakushev, E.; Zolotarova, A. S. « less

Publication Date:

2020-01-01

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Contributing Org.:

CUPID Collaboration

OSTI Identifier:

1564076

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 80; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1434-6044

Publisher:

Springer

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; Double-beta decay; Cryogenic detector; Scintillating bolometer; Scintillator; Enriched materials; 100Mo; Lithium molybdate; High performance; Particle identification; Radiopurity; Low background