A next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiment based on ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers

J. W. Beeman , F. A. Danevich , V. Ya. Degoda , E. N. Galashov , A. Giuliani (1) , V. V. Kobychev , M. Mancuso , S. Marnieros (1) , C. Nones (1) , E. Olivieri (2) , G. Pessina , C. Rusconi , V. N. Shlegel , V. I. Tretyak , Ya. V. Vasiliev

1 CSNSM PS1
2 CSNSM INSTR

The search for neutrinoless double β decay probes lepton number conservation with high sensitivity and investigates the neutrino nature and mass scale. Experiments presently in preparation will cover the quasi-degeneracy region of the neutrino mass pattern. Probing the inverted hierarchy region requires improved sensitivities and next-generation experiments, based either on large expansions of the present searches or on new ideas. We examine here a novel technology relying on ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers, which can provide an experiment with background close to zero in the ton × year exposure scale. The promising performance of a pilot detector is presented, both in terms of energy resolution and background control. A preliminary study of the sensitivities of future experiments shows that the inverted hierarchy region is within the reach of the technique here proposed. A realistic phased approach program towards a next-generation search is presented and briefly discussed.

Mots clés: Double beta decay; Neutrino mass; Low background; Bolometrique technique; Scintillation

Domaines: Physique des Hautes Energies - Expérience [hep-ex]; Instrumentations et Détecteurs [physics.ins-det]

J. W. Beeman, F. A. Danevich, V. Ya. Degoda, E. N. Galashov, A. Giuliani, et al.. A next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiment based on ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometers. Physics Letters B, 2012, 710, pp.318-323. ⟨10.1016/J.PHYSLETB.2012.03.009⟩. ⟨in2p3-00702498⟩