Improved sensitivity in the search for rare decays of Gd isotopes
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866915180469813248 |
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| author | Lehnert, B. Nagorny, S. S. Thiesse, M. Ferella, F. Laubenstein, M. Meehan, E. Nisi, S. Scovell, P. R. |
| author_facet | Lehnert, B. Nagorny, S. S. Thiesse, M. Ferella, F. Laubenstein, M. Meehan, E. Nisi, S. Scovell, P. R. |
| contents | Gadolinium is widely used in multiple low-background experiments, making its isotopes accessible for rare decay searches both in-situ and through radiopurity screening data. This study presents an improved search for rare alpha and double-beta decay modes in $^{152}$Gd, $^{154}$Gd, and $^{160}$Gd isotopes using ultra-low background HPGe detectors at the Boulby Underground Screening (BUGS) facility. A total exposure of 6.7 kg$\cdot$yr of natural gadolinium was achieved using gadolinium sulfate octahydrate $(\text{Gd}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3 \cdot 8\text{H}_2\text{O})$ samples, originally screened for radiopurity prior to their deployment in the Super-Kamiokande neutrino experiment. Due to the detection methodology, only decays into excited states accompanied by gamma-ray emission were accessible. A Bayesian analysis incorporating prior experimental results was employed, leading to new lower half-life limits in the range of $10^{19} - 10^{21}$ years - an improvement of approximately two orders of magnitude over previous constraints. No statistically significant decay signals were observed. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of repurposing large-scale radiopurity screening campaigns for fundamental physics research. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_01641 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Improved sensitivity in the search for rare decays of Gd isotopes Lehnert, B. Nagorny, S. S. Thiesse, M. Ferella, F. Laubenstein, M. Meehan, E. Nisi, S. Scovell, P. R. Nuclear Experiment High Energy Physics - Experiment Gadolinium is widely used in multiple low-background experiments, making its isotopes accessible for rare decay searches both in-situ and through radiopurity screening data. This study presents an improved search for rare alpha and double-beta decay modes in $^{152}$Gd, $^{154}$Gd, and $^{160}$Gd isotopes using ultra-low background HPGe detectors at the Boulby Underground Screening (BUGS) facility. A total exposure of 6.7 kg$\cdot$yr of natural gadolinium was achieved using gadolinium sulfate octahydrate $(\text{Gd}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3 \cdot 8\text{H}_2\text{O})$ samples, originally screened for radiopurity prior to their deployment in the Super-Kamiokande neutrino experiment. Due to the detection methodology, only decays into excited states accompanied by gamma-ray emission were accessible. A Bayesian analysis incorporating prior experimental results was employed, leading to new lower half-life limits in the range of $10^{19} - 10^{21}$ years - an improvement of approximately two orders of magnitude over previous constraints. No statistically significant decay signals were observed. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of repurposing large-scale radiopurity screening campaigns for fundamental physics research. |
| title | Improved sensitivity in the search for rare decays of Gd isotopes |
| topic | Nuclear Experiment High Energy Physics - Experiment |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.01641 |