A neutrinoless double-beta-decay search based on ZnMoO4 and Li2MoO4 scintillating bolometers

The LUMINEU project, funded by ANR in France, envisages a high-sensitivity search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 100Mo with the help of scintillating bolometers based on zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) and lithium molybdate (Li2MoO4) crystals. The excellent results (obtained in collaboration with the LUCIFER and EDELWEISS research teams) in terms of energy resolution (5-10 keV FWHM in the region of interest), α/β rejection factor (> 99.9%) and intrinsic radiopurity (better than a few μBq/kg for the most harmful nuclides 228Th and 226Ra) show that the LUMINEU technology - whose development is part of the program of CUPID, the proposed follow-up to CUORE - is very promising for a next-generation tonne-scale experiment. A 10-kg pilot search is in preparation to confirm these encouraging indications.