New experimental limits on the α decays of lead isotopes

doi:10.1140/epja/i2013-13050-7

New experimental limits on the α decays of lead isotopes

For the first time ancient Roman lead was used to grow a crystal of PbWO₄ , and this crystal has subsequently been used as a cryogenic particle detector. The new device provides independent readout of heat and scintillation light and is able to discriminate between $ \beta/\gamma$ interactions and alpha interactions down to few keV. Stringent limits on the $ \alpha$ decays of the lead isotopes are presented. In particular a limit of $ T_{1/2}>1.4\cdot 10^{20}$ y at a 90% C.L. was evaluated for the $ \alpha$ decay of ²⁰⁴Pb to ²⁰⁰Hg .

Publication:

European Physical Journal A

Pub Date:

April 2013

DOI:

10.1140/epja/i2013-13050-7

10.48550/arXiv.1212.2422

arXiv: