Double-beta decay of 130Te to the first 0 + excited state of 130Xe with CUORE-0

Abstract

We report on a search for double beta decay of 130Te to the first 0 + excited state of 130Xe using a 9.8kg·yr exposure of 130Te collected with the CUORE-0 experiment. In this work we exploit different topologies of coincident events to search for both the neutrinoless and two-neutrino double beta decay modes. We find no evidence for either mode and place lower bounds on the half-lives: T01+0ν>7.9·1023yr and T01+2ν>2.4·1023yr (90%CL). Combining our results with those obtained by the CUORICINO experiment, we achieve the most stringent constraints available for these processes: T01+0ν>1.4·1024yr and T01+2ν>2.5·1023yr (90%CL).