OMC4DBD: ordinary muon capture studies for the matrix elements in double beta decays

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Schönert
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 448829699

In this project is proposed to measure the ordinary muon capture (OMC) on several enriched isotopes in order to investigate neutrino nuclear responses for neutrinoless double beta decay (DBD), namely 136-Ba, 76-Se and 96-Mo. This work extends our program of OMC measurements for daughter nuclei of DBD-nuclei aimed to improve calculations of nuclear matrix elements (NME) of neutrinoles bb-decay process as well as our understanding of g_A quenching in this process. The muon absolute lifetime and radioactive production rate for OMC will be studied during the experiment. High-purity Ge detectors will be used to register the energy and time distribution of gamma-rays, following muon capture. The measured absolute lifetime together with the relative strength distribution will confirm the absolute capture strength as a function of the excitation energy and will help to extend shell model calculations to the heavy DBD isotope mass region and Supernova studies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Foundation for Basic Research, until 3/2022
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Daniya Zinatulina, until 3/2022