First test of a CdMoO4 scintillating bolometer for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments with 116Cd and 100Mo nuclides

Abstract

A large cylindrical cadmium molybdate crystal with natural isotopic abundance has been used to fabricate a scintillating bolometer. The measurement was performed above ground at milli-Kelvin temperature, with simultaneous readout of the heat and the scintillation light. The energy resolution as FWHM has achieved from 5 keV (at 238 keV) to 13 keV (at 2615 keV). We present the results of the $\alpha$ versus $\beta$/$\gamma$ events discrimination. The low internal trace contamination of the $\mathrm{CdMoO_4}$ crystal was evaluated as well. The detector performance with preliminary positive indications proves that cadmium molybdate crystal is a promising absorber for neutrinoless double beta decay scintillating bolometric experiments with $\mathrm{{}^{116}Cd}$ and $\mathrm{{}^{100}Mo}$ nuclides in the next-generation technique.