Status of double beta decay experiments using isotopes other than 136 Xe

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay is a lepton-number violating process predicted by many extensions of the standard model. It is actively searched for in several candidate isotopes within many experimental projects. The status of the experimental initiatives which are looking for the neutrinoless double beta decay in isotopes other than Xe-136 is reviewed, with special emphasis given to the projects that passed the R&D phase. The results recently released by the experiment GERDA are also summarized and discussed. The GERDA data give no positive indication of neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge-76 and disfavor in a model-independent way the long-standing observation claim on the same isotope. The lower limit reported by GERDA for the half-life of neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge-76 is T1/2 > 2.1e25 yr (90% C.L.), or T1/2 > 3.0e25 yr, when combined with the results of other Ge-76 predecessor experiments.