Observation of Two-Neutrino Double-Beta Decay in Xe136 with the EXO-200 Detector
Abstract
We report the observation of two-neutrino double-beta decay in Xe136 with T1/2=2.11±0.04(stat)±0.21(syst)×1021yr. This second-order process, predicted by the standard model, has been observed for several nuclei but not for Xe136. The observed decay rate provides new input to matrix element calculations and to the search for the more interesting neutrinoless double-beta decay, the most sensitive probe for the existence of Majorana particles and the measurement of the neutrino mass scale.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.212501
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1108.4193
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvL.107u2501A
- Keywords:
-
- 23.40.-s;
- 14.60.Pq;
- Beta decay;
- double beta decay;
- electron and muon capture;
- Neutrino mass and mixing;
- Nuclear Experiment;
- High Energy Physics - Experiment;
- Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
- E-Print:
- doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.212501