NEW APPROACH TO THE SEARCH FOR NEUTRINOLESS DOUBLE BETA-DECAY

Sub-eV Majorana neutrino masses [m(v)], can be explored by a new approach to neutrinoless double beta decay using Xe-136 in a Xe gas-loaded, multiton liquid scintillator installed in a very low background detector such as the Kamiokande facility. With enriched Xe-136, a readily implementable, 10 ton detection tor experiment can establish an [m(v)] -0.45 eV at 3sigma in 1 yr (or exclude an [m(v)] < 0.23 eV in 2 yr). A 100 ton detector can extend the limit to [m(v)] < 0.1 eV, compared with the present limit of [m(v)] < 1.3 eV.