Search for Two-Neutrino 2K Capture in Xe-124: the Method and Preliminary Results

摘要

The technique used in the experiment in the search for the process of 2K2.-capture in 124Xe using large high-pressure proportional counters is briefly described. The measurements with a xenon sample enriched to 21% (or similar to 57 g) of the Xe-124 isotope carried out for 3340 hours yielded a zero signal. The resultant upper limit on the Xe-124 half-life with respect to the 2 nu-mode of the nuclear capture of two K-shell electrons amounts to T-1/2 4.6 x 10(21) yr at the 90% confidence level.