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Title: A technique for searching for the 2K capture in {sup 124}Xe with a copper proportional counter

Journal Article · · Physics of Atomic Nuclei
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [1]
  1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Nuclear Research (Russian Federation)
  2. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine)

An experimental technique for searching for the 2K capture in {sup 124}Xe with a large low-background copper proportional counter is described. Such an experiment is conducted at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The experimental setup is located in the Low-Background Deep-Level Laboratory at a depth of 4900 m.w.e., where the flux of muons of cosmic rays is suppressed by a factor of 10{sup 7} relative to that at the Earth’s surface. The setup incorporates a proportional counter and low-background shielding (18 cm of copper, 15 cm of lead, and 8 cm of borated polyethylene). The results of processing the data obtained in 5 months of live measurement time are presented. A new limit on the half-life of {sup 124}Xe with respect to the 2K capture is set at the level of 2.5 × 10{sup 21} years.

OSTI ID:
22471844
Journal Information:
Physics of Atomic Nuclei, Vol. 78, Issue 13; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7788
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English