A search for double-beta decays of 136Xe to excited states of 136Ba has been performed with the first phase data set of the KamLAND-Zen experiment. The 01+ , 21+ and 22+ transitions of 0νββ decay ...were evaluated in an exposure of 89.5 kg•yr of 136Xe, while the same transitions of 2νββ decay were evaluated in an exposure of 61.8 kg•yr. No excess over background was found for all decay modes. The lower half-life limits of the 21+ state transitions of 0νββ and 2νββ decay were improved to T$0v\atop{1/2}$(0+ →21+) > 2.6×1025 yr and T$2v\atop{1/2}$ (0+ →21+) > 4.6×1023 yr (90% C.L.), respectively. We report on the first experimental lower half-life limits for the transitions to the 01+ state of 136Xe for 0νββ and 2νββ decay. They are T$0v\atop{1/2}$(0+ →01+) > 2.4×1025 yr and T$2v\atop{1/2}$(0+ →01+) > 8.3×1023 yr (90% C.L.). The transitions to the 22+ states are also evaluated for the first time to be T$0v\atop{1/2}$(0+ →22+) > 2.6×1025 yr and T$2v\atop{1/2}$(0+ →22+) > 9.0×1023 yr (90% C.L.). Finally, these results are compared to recent theoretical predictions.
A search for the appearance of tau neutrinos from nu(mu) <--> nu(tau) oscillations in the atmospheric neutrinos has been performed using 1489.2 days of atmospheric neutrino data from the ...Super-Kamiokande-I experiment. A best fit tau neutrino appearance signal of 138+/-48(stat)-32(+15)(syst) events is obtained with an expectation of 78+/-26(syst). The hypothesis of no tau neutrino appearance is disfavored by 2.4 sigma.
We report a measurement of the neutrino-electron elastic scattering rate of 862 keV 7Be solar neutrinos based on a 165.4 kt d exposure of KamLAND. The observed rate is 582±94(kt d)₋1, which ...corresponds to an 862-keV 7Be solar neutrino flux of (3.26±0.52)×109cm₋2s₋1, assuming a pure electron-flavor flux. Comparing this flux with the standard solar model prediction and further assuming three-flavor mixing, a νe survival probability of 0.66±0.15 is determined from the KamLAND data. Lastly, utilizing a global three-flavor oscillation analysis, we obtain a total 7Be solar neutrino flux of (5.82±1.02)×109cm₋2s₋1, which is consistent with the standard solar model predictions.
A search for the relic neutrinos from all past core-collapse supernovae was conducted using 1496 days of data from the Super-Kamiokande detector. This analysis looked for electron-type antineutrinos ...that had produced a positron with an energy greater than 18 MeV. In the absence of a signal, 90% C.L. upper limits on the total flux were set for several theoretical models; these limits ranged from 20 to 130 macro nu(e) cm(-2) s(-1). Additionally, an upper bound of 1.2 macro nu(e) cm(-2) s(-1) was set for the supernova relic neutrino flux in the energy region E(nu)>19.3 MeV.
The removal of radioactivity from liquid scintillator has been studied in preparation of a low background phase of KamLAND. This paper describes the methods and techniques developed to measure and ...efficiently extract radon decay products from liquid scintillator. We report the radio-isotope reduction factors obtained when applying various extraction methods. During this study, distillation was identified as the most efficient method for removing radon-born lead from liquid scintillator.
The removal of radioactivity from liquid scintillator has been studied in preparation of a low background phase of KamLAND. This paper describes the methods and techniques developed to measure and ...efficiently extract radon decay products from liquid scintillator. We report the radio isotope reduction factors obtained when applying various extraction methods. During this study, distillation was identified as the most efficient method for removing radon-born lead from liquid scintillator.
We describe a compact, ultra-clean device used to deploy radioactive sources along the vertical axis of the KamLAND liquid-scintillator neutrino detector for purposes of calibration. The device ...worked by paying out and reeling in precise lengths of a hanging, small-gauge wire rope (cable); an assortment of interchangeable radioactive sources could be attached to a weight at the end of the cable. All components exposed to the radiopure liquid scintillator were made of chemically compatible UHV-cleaned materials, primarily stainless steel, in order to avoid contaminating or degrading the scintillator. To prevent radon intrusion, the apparatus was enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing inside a glove box, and both volumes were regularly flushed with purified nitrogen gas. Finally, an infrared camera attached to the side of the housing permitted real-time visual monitoring of the cable’s motion, and the system was controlled via a graphical user interface.
We present a precision analysis of the ^{136}Xe two-neutrino ββ electron spectrum above 0.8 MeV, based on high-statistics data obtained with the KamLAND-Zen experiment. An improved formalism for the ...two-neutrino ββ rate allows us to measure the ratio of the leading and subleading 2νββ nuclear matrix elements (NMEs), ξ_{31}^{2ν}=-0.26_{-0.25}^{+0.31}. Theoretical predictions from the nuclear shell model and the majority of the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) calculations are consistent with the experimental limit. However, part of the ξ_{31}^{2ν} range allowed by the QRPA is excluded by the present measurement at the 90% confidence level. Our analysis reveals that predicted ξ_{31}^{2ν} values are sensitive to the quenching of NMEs and the competing contributions from low- and high-energy states in the intermediate nucleus. Because these aspects are also at play in neutrinoless ββ decay, ξ_{31}^{2ν} provides new insights toward reliable neutrinoless ββ NMEs.
A subset of neutrino-induced upward through-going muons in the Super-Kamiokande detector consists of high-energy muons which lose energy through radiative processes such as bremsstrahlung,
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...pair production and photonuclear interactions. These “upward showering muons” comprise an event sample whose mean parent neutrino energy is approximately 1
TeV. We show that the zenith angle distribution of upward showering muons is consistent with negligible distortion due to neutrino oscillations, as expected of such a high-energy neutrino sample. We present astronomical searches using these high-energy events, such as those from WIMP annihilations in the Sun, Earth and Galactic Center, some suspected point sources, as well as searches for diffuse flux from the interstellar medium.
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