New limits on $2 \varepsilon$ 2 ɛ , $\varepsilon \beta^{+}$ ɛ β + and $2 \beta^{+}$ 2 β + decay of 136Ce and 138Ce with deeply purified cerium sample

Abstract

A search for double electron capture ($2\varepsilon$), electron capture with positron emission ($\varepsilon\beta^+$), and double positron emission $2\beta^+$) in $^{136}$Ce and $^{138}$Ce was realized with a 465 cm$^3$ ultra-low background HP Ge $\gamma$ spectrometer over 2299 h at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. A 627 g sample of cerium oxide deeply purified by liquid-liquid extraction method was used as a source of $\gamma$ quanta expected in double $\beta$ decay of the cerium isotopes. New improved half-life limits were set on different modes and channels of double $\beta$ decay of $^{136}$Ce and $^{138}$Ce at the level of $T_{1/2}>10^{17}-10^{18}$ yr.