Enrichment of 150Nd for neutrinoless double-beta decay detection

Abstract

A 562 nm–627 nm–597 nm three-step resonant photoionization scheme has been studied using the density matrix formalism for the enrichment of 150Nd in weighable quantities for the neutrinoless double-beta decay detection. The effect of bandwidth of the excitation laser and charge exchange collisions, on the production rates and degree of enrichment has also been studied. Optimum conditions for the efficient enrichment of 150Nd isotope have been derived. It has been shown that it might be possible to produce 50 kg of 66% enriched 150Nd isotope in about five months (16 h/day) using the conditions derived through this investigation. This enables to reach the 0νββ decay half-life limit of ≈ 1.8 × 1025 year for the 150Nd isotope.