Published February 4, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Resonant Enhancement of Neutrinoless Double-Electron Capture in 152Gd

  • 1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
  • 2. Physikalisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet, 69120 Heidelberg (Germany)
  • 3. GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Planckstrasse 1, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany)
  • 4. Institut fuer Physik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitaet, 17487 Greifswald (Germany)
  • 5. Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, 117218 Moscow (Russian Federation)
  • 6. PNPI, Gatchina, 188300 St. Petersburg (Russian Federation)
  • 7. Helmholtz-Institut Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet, 55099 Mainz (Germany)
  • 8. Department of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg (Russian Federation)
  • 9. Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava (Slovakia)
  • 10. Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna (Russian Federation)
  • 11. Institut fuer Kern- und Teilchenphysik, Technische Universitaet, 01069 Dresden (Germany)

Description

In the search for the nuclide with the largest probability for neutrinoless double-electron capture, we have determined the Qεε value between the ground states of 152Gd and 152Sm by Penning-trap mass-ratio measurements. The new Qεε value of 55.70(18) keV results in a half-life of 1026 yr for a 1 eV neutrino mass. With this smallest half-life among known 0νεε transitions, 152Gd is a promising candidate for the search for neutrinoless double-electron capture.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
106
Journal Issue
5
Journal Page Range
p. 052504-052504.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics