Double-beta decay Q values of $^{130}$Te, $^{128}$Te, and $^{120}$Te
ORAL
Abstract
Using the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer we have measured $Q$ values for the double-beta decay processes with parent nuclei $^{120}$Te, $^{128}$Te, $^{130}$Te. These measurements are relevant to the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu \beta \beta$) at the COURE/CUORICINO experiment. If observed, $0\nu \beta \beta$ decay would imply that the electron neutrino is a massive Majorana particle and that lepton number is not universally conserved in nature. We provide our results and a discussion of their implications.
*This work has been supported by grants from NSERC, Canada, and by the U.S. DOE, Nuclear Physics Division, under Contract No. DE-AC0206CH11357.
–