Quest for neutrinoless double beta decay of 160Gd

The experiment with a large (≈95 cm ³) Gd ₂SiO ₅:Ce crystal scintillator has been performed in the Solotvina Underground Laboratory to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of ¹⁶⁰Gd. The background rate was reduced to a level of 0.045 counts/h/keV/kg in the vicinity of ββ decay energy of ¹⁶⁰Gd (1730 keV). The half-life limits have been set for 0vββ decay of ¹⁶⁰Gd: T _1/2^ov(g.s. → g.s.) ≥ 8.2·10 ²⁰ y (90% CL); T _1/2^ov (0 ⁺ → 2 ⁺) ≥ 8.2·10 ²⁰ y (90% CL).