1207.0433 (J. W. Beeman et al.)

Performances of a large mass ZnMoO4 scintillating bolometer for a next
generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiment    [PDF]

J. W. Beeman, F. Bellini, C. Brofferio, L. Cardani, N. Casali, O. Cremonesi, I. Dafinei, S. Di Domizio, F. Ferroni, E. Gorello, E. N. Galashov, L. Gironi, S. S. Nagorny, F. Orio, M. Pavan, L. Pattavina, G. Pessina, G. Piperno, S. Pirro, E. Previtali, C. Rusconi, V. N. Shlegel, C. Tomei, M. Vignati

We present the performances of a 330 g zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) crystal working as scintillating bolometer as a possible candidate for a next generation experiment to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 100Mo. The energy resolution, evaluated at the 2615 keV gamma-line of 208Tl, is 6.3 keV FWHM. The internal radioactive contaminations of the ZnMoO4 were evaluated as <6 microBq/kg (228Th) and 27\pm6 microBq/kg (226Ra). We also present the results of the alpha vs beta/gamma discrimination, obtained through the scintillation light as well as through the study of the shape of the thermal signal alone.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.0433