January 13, 2023
Journal Article
Measurement of the 136Xe two-neutrino double beta decay half-life via direct background subtraction in NEXT
Abstract
We report a measurement of the half-life of the 136Xe two-neutrino double beta decay performed with a novel direct background subtraction technique. The analysis relies on the data collected with the NEXT-White detector operated with 136Xe-enriched and 136Xe-depleted xenon, as well as on the topology of double-electron tracks. With a fiducial mass of only 3.5 kg of Xe, a half-life of 2.34+0.80 -0.46(stat)+0.30 -0.17 (sys)×1021 yr is derived from the background-subtracted energy spectrum. The presented technique demonstrates the feasibility of unique background-model-independent neutrinoless double beta decay searches.Published: January 13, 2023