Random coincidence of 2ν2β decay events as a background source in bolometric 0ν2β decay experiments

Abstract

Two-neutrino double β decay can create an irremovable background even in high energy resolution detectors searching for neutrinoless double β decay due to random coincidence of 2ν2β events in the case of poor time resolution. Some possibilities for suppressing this background in cryogenic scintillating bolometers are discussed. It is shown that the present bolometric detector technologies enable one to control this form of background at the level required to explore the inverted hierarchy of the neutrino mass pattern, including the case of bolometers searching for the neutrinoless double β decay of 100Mo, which is characterized by a relatively short two-neutrino double β decay half-life. © 2012 The Author(s).