INVESTIGATION OF THE BETA-BETA-DECAY OF ZR-96 TO EXCITED-STATES IN MO-96

The two-neutrino mode of double beta decay (2 nu beta beta) of Zr-96 i s investigated both theoretically and experimentally, The calculations , using the quasiparticle random phase approximation approach, shaw th at for Zr-96 the detection of 2 nu beta beta transitions to the two fi rst excited states in the daughter nuclide will be possible in the ver y new future. On the experimental side, new, most stringent limits on half-lives for the double beta decay of Zr-96 to excited states in Mo- 96 have been obtained with a 430 cm(3) 'well-type' germanium detector, They range between 5 x 10(19) and 8 x 10(19) years (90% CL).