A
bstract
Neutrinoless double-beta decay is a key process in particle physics. Its experimental investigation is the only viable method that can establish the Majorana nature of neutrinos, providing ...at the same time a sensitive inclusive test of lepton number violation. CROSS (Cryogenic Rare-event Observatory with Surface Sensitivity) aims at developing and testing a new bolometric technology to be applied to future large-scale experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay of the promising nuclei
100
Mo and
130
Te. The limiting factor in large-scale bolometric searches for this rare process is the background induced by surface radioactive contamination, as shown by the results of the CUORE experiment. The basic concept of CROSS consists of rejecting this challenging background component by pulse-shape discrimination, assisted by a proper coating of the faces of the crystal containing the isotope of interest and serving as energy absorber of the bolometric detector. In this paper, we demonstrate that ultra-pure superconductive Al films deposited on the crystal surfaces act successfully as pulse-shape modifiers, both with fast and slow phonon sensors. Rejection factors higher than 99.9% of
α
surface radioactivity have been demonstrated in a series of prototypes based on crystals of Li
2
MoO
4
and TeO
2
. We have also shown that point-like energy depositions can be identified up to a distance of
∼
1 mm from the coated surface. The present program envisions an intermediate experiment to be installed underground in the Canfranc laboratory (Spain) in a CROSS-dedicated facility. This experiment, comprising
∼
3
×
10
25
nuclei of
100
Mo, will be a general test of the CROSS technology as well as a worldwide competitive search for neutrinoless double-beta decay, with sensitivity to the effective Majorana mass down to 70 meV in the most favorable conditions.
We report the measurement of the two-neutrino double-beta ($2\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{100}$Mo to the ground state of $^{100}$Ru using lithium molybdate (\crystal) scintillating bolometers. The ...detectors were developed for the CUPID-Mo program and operated at the EDELWEISS-III low background facility in the Modane underground laboratory. From a total exposure of $42.235$ kg$\times$d, the half-life of $^{100}$Mo is determined to be $T_{1/2}^{2\nu}=7.12^{+0.18}_{-0.14}\,\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.10\,\mathrm{(syst.)}\times10^{18}$ years. This is the most accurate determination of the $2\nu\beta\beta$ half-life of $^{100}$Mo to date. We also confirm, with the statistical significance of $>3\sigma$, that the single-state dominance model of the $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay of $^{100}$Mo is favored over the high-state dominance model.
The research of methods to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere has led to formation of new thermodynamic cycles in which oxygen is separated from the air before combustion. Fuel, pure oxygen and ...some recirculating substances, from which it is easy to separate CO2 formed during the combustion, are fed into the combustion chamber. Usually, CO2, H2O or a mixture of thereof are used in the form of recirculated flue gas. The parameters in such cycles are chosen at different points in the cycle, where the working fluid can be in liquid, gaseous or supercritical states. The computational study of such cycles requires a convenient presentation of the thermophysical properties of different substances that can be part of the working fluid in a wide range of parameters. The aim of this work is to develop a data array and a computational module (spreadsheet) considering the dependence of the basic thermophysical properties of various substances. A conversion method of variables that allowed the formation of a compact interpolation grid with minimal loss of accuracy during subsequent interpolation was proposed, where the use of integers for the nodal values of the independent variables saved computational resources during interpolation significantly.
Random coincidences of events could be one of the main sources of background in the search for neutrino-less double-beta decay of
100
Mo with macro-bolometers, due to their modest time resolution. ...Scintillating bolometers as those based on Li
2
MoO
4
crystals and employed in the CROSS and CUPID experiments can eventually exploit the coincident fast signal detected in a light detector to reduce this background. However, the scintillation provides a modest signal-to-noise ratio, making difficult a pile-up pulse-shape recognition and rejection at timescales shorter than a few ms. Neganov–Trofimov–Luke assisted light detectors (NTL-LDs) offer the possibility to effectively increase the signal-to-noise ratio, preserving a fast time-response, and enhance the capability of pile-up rejection via pulse shape analysis. In this article we present: (a) an experimental work performed with a Li
2
MoO
4
scintillating bolometer, studied in the framework of the CROSS experiment, and utilizing a NTL-LD; (b) a simulation method to reproduce, synthetically, randomly coincident two-neutrino double-beta decay events; (c) a new analysis method based on a pulse-shape discrimination algorithm capable of providing high pile-up rejection efficiencies. We finally show how the NTL-LDs offer a balanced solution between performance and complexity to reach background index
∼
10
-
4
counts/keV/kg/year with 280 g Li
2
MoO
4
(
100
Mo enriched) bolometers at 3034 keV, the Q
β
β
of the double-beta decay, and target the goal of a next generation experiment like CUPID.
Abstract
The article discusses the issues of reducing the size of the cooling unit of the antenna of a radar station by improving the gas-dynamic processes occurring in the air-cooling unit. The ...results of the experimental studies of the gas flow in a plate-fin heat exchanger, being blown by one axial fan are presented. The feasibility of changing the number of axial fans for organizing a more uniform flow around the heat-exchange surfaces has been determined by calculation and theoretical methods. The calculation results are confirmed by experimental studies of the air flow in the segment of the heat exchanger, which is provided by a smaller fan.
CUPID-Mo, located in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France), was a demonstrator for the next generation
0
ν
β
β
decay experiment, CUPID. It consisted of an array of 20 enriched Li
2
100
MoO
4
...bolometers and 20 Ge light detectors and has demonstrated that the technology of scintillating bolometers with particle identification capabilities is mature. Furthermore, CUPID-Mo can inform and validate the background prediction for CUPID. In this paper, we present a detailed model of the CUPID-Mo backgrounds. This model is able to describe well the features of the experimental data and enables studies of the
2
ν
β
β
decay and other processes with high precision. We also measure the radio-purity of the Li
2
100
MoO
4
crystals which are found to be sufficient for the CUPID goals. Finally, we also obtain a background index in the region of interest of 3.7
-
0.8
+
0.9
(stat)
-
0.7
+
1.5
(syst)
×
10
-
3
counts/
Δ
E
FWHM
/
mol
iso
/
year
,
the lowest in a bolometric
0
ν
β
β
decay experiment.
Abstract
CUPID-Mo, located in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France), was a demonstrator for the next generation
$$0\nu \beta \beta $$
0
ν
β
β
decay experiment, CUPID. It consisted of an array ...of 20 enriched Li
$$_{2}$$
2
$$^{100}$$
100
MoO
$$_4$$
4
bolometers and 20 Ge light detectors and has demonstrated that the technology of scintillating bolometers with particle identification capabilities is mature. Furthermore, CUPID-Mo can inform and validate the background prediction for CUPID. In this paper, we present a detailed model of the CUPID-Mo backgrounds. This model is able to describe well the features of the experimental data and enables studies of the
$$2\nu \beta \beta $$
2
ν
β
β
decay and other processes with high precision. We also measure the radio-purity of the Li
$$_{2}$$
2
$$^{100}$$
100
MoO
$$_4$$
4
crystals which are found to be sufficient for the CUPID goals. Finally, we also obtain a background index in the region of interest of 3.7
$$^{+0.9}_{-0.8}$$
-
0.8
+
0.9
(stat)
$$^{+1.5}_{-0.7}$$
-
0.7
+
1.5
(syst)
$$\times ~10 ^{-3}$$
×
10
-
3
counts/
$$\Delta E_{\text {FWHM}}/\text {mol}_{\text {iso}}/\text {year},$$
Δ
E
FWHM
/
mol
iso
/
year
,
the lowest in a bolometric
$$0\nu \beta \beta $$
0
ν
β
β
decay experiment.
The CUPID-Mo experiment to search for 0
ν
β
β
decay in
100
Mo has been recently completed after about 1.5 years of operation at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France). It served as a demonstrator ...for CUPID, a next generation 0
ν
β
β
decay experiment. CUPID-Mo was comprised of 20 enriched
Li
2
100
MoO
4
scintillating calorimeters, each with a mass of
∼
0.2
kg, operated at
∼
20
mK. We present here the final analysis with the full exposure of CUPID-Mo (
100
Mo exposure of 1.47
kg
×
year
) used to search for lepton number violation via 0
ν
β
β
decay. We report on various analysis improvements since the previous result on a subset of data, reprocessing all data with these new techniques. We observe zero events in the region of interest and set a new limit on the
100
Mo 0
ν
β
β
decay half-life of
T
1
/
2
0
ν
>
1.8
×
10
24
year (stat. + syst.) at 90% CI. Under the light Majorana neutrino exchange mechanism this corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass of
m
β
β
<
(
0.28
-
0.49
)
eV, dependent upon the nuclear matrix element utilized.
The paper deals with the design of highly efficient small-size turbines. A method for designing a steam gas turbine using numerical methods for calculating the working processes in the flow section ...is described. The results of the calculated and theoretical research, which allowed determining the main characteristics of the turbine, are given. The estimated efficiency of the resulting turbine was not less than 85%. The results of tests in the model conditions of the model turbine, manufactured using additive technology, are presented. A comparison of experimental and calculated data has led to the conclusion about the adequacy of the developed mathematical model used in the calculated and theoretical research.