Energy resolution,
α
/
β
ratio, pulse-shape discrimination for
γ
-rays and
α
particles and radioactive contamination were studied with yttrium–aluminum garnet doped with neodymium (YAG:Nd). ...Applicability of YAG:Nd scintillators to search for
2
β
decay and
α
activity of natural neodymium isotopes is discussed.
The unique features of the CTF and BOREXINO set ups are used for a high sensitivity study of
100Mo and
116Cd neutrinoless 2
β decay. Pilot measurements with
116Cd and Monte Carlo simulation show that ...the sensitivity of the CAMEO experiment (in terms of the
T
1/2 limit for 0
ν2
β decay) is (3–5)
×10
24
yr with a 1 kg source of
100Mo (
116Cd,
82Se,
150Nd) and ≈10
26 yr with 65 kg of
116CdWO
4 crystals placed in the CTF. The last value corresponds to a limit on the neutrino mass of
m
ν
⩽0.06 eV. Moreover, with 1000 kg of
116CdWO
4 crystals located in the BOREXINO apparatus the neutrino mass limit can be pushed down to
m
ν
⩽0.02 eV.
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