We report on the first compelling observation of \(\alpha\) decay of \(^{151}\)Eu to the ground state of \(^{147}\)Pm. The measurement was performed using a 6.15 g Li\(_6\)Eu(BO\(_3\))\(_3\) crystal ...operated as a scintillating bolometer. The Q-value and half-life measured are: Q = 1948.9\(\pm 6.9(stat.) \pm 5.1(syst.)\) keV, and T\(_{1/2}=\left( 4.62\pm0.95(stat.)\pm0.68(syst.)\right) \times 10^{18}\) y . The half-life prediction of nuclear theory using the Coulomb and proximity potential model are in good agreement with this experimental result.
This article explains how a 12-year-old boy with profound mental retardation and autistic behaviors, living in a group home, was taught to follow number- and color-coded directions so that he could ...independently cook his own meals in a microwave oven. The article covers materials used, the skills taught, adaptations for classroom use, and safety aspects. (DB)
High purity TeO2 crystals are produced to be used for the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te. Dedicated production lines for raw material synthesis, crystal growth and surface ...processing were built compliant with radio-purity constraints specific to rare event physics experiments. High sensitivity measurements of radio-isotope concentrations in raw materials, reactants, consumables, ancillaries and intermediary products used for TeO2 crystals production are reported. Production and certification protocols are presented and resulting ready-to-use TeO2 crystals are described.
We present a search for beta plus/EC double beta decay of 120Te performed with the CUORICINO experiment, an array of TeO2 cryogenic bolometers. After collecting 0.0573 kg y of 120Te, we see no ...evidence of a signal and therefore set the following limits on the half-life: T1/2 (0nu) > 1.9 10^{21} y at 90% C.L. for the 0 neutrino mode and T1/2 (2nu) > 7.6 10^{19} y at 90% C.L. for the two neutrino mode. These results improve the existing limits by almost three orders of magnitude (four in the case of 0 neutrino mode).
We report the final result of the CUORICINO experiment. Operated between 2003 and 2008, with a total exposure of 19.75 kg y of 130Te, CUORICINO was able to set a lower bound on the 130Te 0nDBD ...half-life of 2.8 10^{24} years at 90% C.L. The limit here reported includes the effects of systematic uncertainties that are examined in detail in the paper. The corresponding upper bound on the neutrino Majorana mass is in the range 300--710 meV, depending on the adopted nuclear matrix element evaluation.
The EDELWEISS-II collaboration has completed a direct search for WIMP dark matter with an array of ten 400-g cryogenic germanium detectors in operation at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane. The ...combined use of thermal phonon sensors and charge collection electrodes with an interleaved geometry enables the efficient rejection of gamma-induced radioactivity as well as near-surface interactions. A total effective exposure of 384 kg.d has been achieved, mostly coming from fourteen months of continuous operation. Five nuclear recoil candidates are observed above 20 keV, while the estimated background is 3.0 events. The result is interpreted in terms of limits on the cross-section of spin-independent interactions of WIMPs and nucleons. A cross-section of 4.4x10^-8 pb is excluded at 90%CL for a WIMP mass of 85 GeV. New constraints are also set on models where the WIMP-nucleon scattering is inelastic.
To better understand the contribution of cosmic ray muons to the CUORICINO background, 10 plastic scintillator detectors were installed at the CUORICINO site and operated during the final 3 months of ...the experiment. From these measurements, an upper limit of 0.0021 counts/(keV kg yr) (95% CL) was obtained on the cosmic ray-induced background in the neutrinoless double beta decay region of interest. The measurements were also compared to Geant4 simulations.
The CDMS and EDELWEISS collaborations have combined the results of their direct searches for dark matter using cryogenic germanium detectors. The total data set represents 614 kg.d equivalent ...exposure. A straightforward method of combination was chosen for its simplicity before data were exchanged between experiments. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross-section. For a WIMP mass of 90 GeV/c^2, where this analysis is most sensitive, a cross-section of 3.3 x 10^{-44} cm^2 is excluded at 90% CL. At higher WIMP masses, the combination improves the individual limits, by a factor 1.6 above 700 GeV/c^2. Alternative methods of combining the data provide stronger constraints for some ranges of WIMP masses and weaker constraints for others.
A 12-year-old boy with severe disabilities was taught street-crossing skills through the use of photographs with verbal rehearsal of appropriate street crossing, followed by community-based ...instruction. The skills were acquired, maintained at follow up, and generalized to new streets. (JDD)
