Double-beta decay Q values of 130Te, 128Te, and 120Te

Understand

The double-beta decay Q values of 130Te, 128Te, and 120Te have been determined from parent-daughter mass differences measured with the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer.

• The 132Xe-129Xe mass difference, which is precisely known, was also determined to confirm the accuracy of these results.
• The 130Te Q value was found to be 2527.01(32) keV which is 3.3 keV lower than the 2003 Atomic Mass Evaluation recommended value, but in agreement with the most precise previous measurement.
• The uncertainty has been reduced by a factor of 6 and is now significantly smaller than the resolution achieved or foreseen in experimental searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay.