https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11510-1
Regular Article - Experimental Physics
Updated and novel limits on double beta decay and dark matter-induced processes in platinum
1
Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen’s University, K7L 3N6, Kingston, ON, Canada
2
INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, 67100, Assergi, Italy
3
Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, K7L 3N6, Kingston, ON, Canada
4
Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZL, Liverpool, UK
5
Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
6
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, N2L 2Y5, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Received:
12
October
2022
Accepted:
14
April
2023
Published online:
12
May
2023
A 510 day long-term measurement of a 45.3 g platinum foil acting as the sample and high voltage contact in an ultra-low-background high purity germanium detector was performed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (Italy). The data was used for a detailed study of double beta decay modes in natural platinum isotopes. Limits are set in the range years (90% C.L.) for several double beta decay transitions to excited states confirming, and partially extending existing limits. The highest sensitivity of the measurement, greater than
years, was achieved for the two neutrino and neutrinoless double beta decay modes of the isotope
Pt. Additionally, novel limits for inelastic dark matter scattering on
Pt are placed up to mass splittings of approximately 500 keV. We analyze several techniques to extend the sensitivity and propose a few approaches for future medium-scale experiments with platinum-group elements.
© The Author(s) 2023
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