First investigation of 96Zr samples enriched by the gas-centrifuge method for the use in rare-decay studies

For the first time, the isotope 96Zr has been produced by the gas-centrifuge method (enrichment is 88.28% and full mass of 96Zr is 179.816 g). The level of radionuclide impurities of the samples and thus their suitability for rare-event search have been investigated using three low-background HPGe detectors. The most stringent limit, obtained at sea level, on the half-life of the double beta decay of 96Zr to the 0+1 excited state (1148 keV) of 96Mo has been set T1/2(0ν+2ν)>3.9×1019 yr (90% C.L.).