Search for double-β decay of 130Te to the first 0+ excited state of 130Xe with the CUORICINO experiment bolometer array

Search for double-beta decay of 130Te to the first 0+ excited state of 130Xe with the CUORICINO experiment bolometer array. Phys Rev C, 85, 045503 (2012)

The CUORICINO experiment was an array of 62 TeO2 single-crystal bolometers with a total 130Te mass of 11.3 kg. The experiment finished in 2008 after more than 3 yr of active operating time. Searches for both 0ν and 2ν double-β decay to the first excited 0+ state in 130Xe were performed by studying different coincidence scenarios.
The analysis was based on data representing a total exposure of N(130Te)·t = 9.5 × 1025 yr. No evidence for a signal was found. The resulting lower limits on the half-lives are T 2ν
12 (130Te →130Xe∗) > 1.3 × 1023 yr (90% C.L.), and T 0ν 12
(130Te →130Xe∗) > 9.4 × 1023 yr (90% CL).