2015-09-03 Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of 130Te with CUORE-0

Author: 

K. Alfonso et al. (CUORE Collaboration)

Journal: 
Physical Review Letters
Year: 
2015
Volume: 
115
Page: 
102502
DOI: 
10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.102502
arXiv: 
1504.02454
Title: 

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of Te-130 with CUORE-0

Abstract (for collaboration papers): 

We report the results of a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in a 9.8 kg⋅yr exposure of 130Te using a bolometric detector array, CUORE-0. The characteristic detector energy resolution and background level in the region of interest are 5.1 ± 0.3 keV FWHM and 0.058 ± 0.004 (stat.) ± 0.002 (syst.) counts/(keV⋅kg⋅yr), respectively. The median 90% C.L. lower-limit sensitivity of the experiment is 2.9 × 1024 yr and surpasses the sensitivity of previous searches. We find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay of 130Te and place a Bayesian lower bound on the decay half-life, T1∕2 > 2.7 × 1024 yr at 90% C.L. Combining CUORE-0 data with the the 19.75 kg⋅yr exposure of 130Te from the Cuoricino experiment we obtain T1∕2 > 4.0 × 1024 yr at 90% C.L. (Bayesian), the most stringent limit to date on this half-life. Using a range of nuclear matrix element estimates we interpret this as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, mββ < 270–760 meV.