We report on a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ with EXO-200. No signal is observed for an exposure of 32.5 kg yr, with a background of $\sim 1.5\times {10}^{-3}{\mathrm{kg}}^{-1}{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}{\mathrm{keV}}^{-1}$ in the $\pm 1\sigma$ region of interest. This sets a lower limit on the half-life of the neutrinoless double-beta decay $T_{1/2}^{0\nu \beta \beta }({}^{136}\mathrm{Xe})>1.6\times {10}^{25}\mathrm{yr}$ (90% C.L.), corresponding to effective Majorana masses of less than 140–380 meV, depending on the matrix element calculation.

The next-generation Enriched Xenon Observatory (nEXO) is a proposed experiment to search for neutrinoless double-$\beta$ ($0\nu \beta \beta$) decay in ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ with a target half-life sensitivity of approximately ${10}^{28}$ yr using $5\times {10}^3$ kg of isotopically enriched liquid-xenon in a time projection chamber. This improvement of two orders of magnitude in sensitivity over current limits is obtained by a significant increase of the ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ mass, the monolithic and homogeneous configuration of the active medium, and the multiparameter measurements of the interactions enabled by the time projection chamber. The detector concept and anticipated performance are presented based upon demonstrated realizable background rates.

Results from a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu \beta \beta$) of ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ are presented using the first year of data taken with the upgraded EXO-200 detector. Relative to previous searches by EXO-200, the energy resolution of the detector has been improved to $\sigma /E=1.23\%$, the electric field in the drift region has been raised by 50%, and a system to suppress radon in the volume between the cryostat and lead shielding has been implemented. In addition, analysis techniques that improve topological discrimination between $0\nu \beta \beta$ and background events have been developed. Incorporating these hardware and analysis improvements, the median 90% confidence level $0\nu \beta \beta$ half-life sensitivity after combining with the full data set acquired before the upgrade has increased twofold to $3.7\times {10}^{25}\mathrm{yr}$. No statistically significant evidence for $0\nu \beta \beta$ is observed, leading to a lower limit on the $0\nu \beta \beta$ half-life of $1.8\times {10}^{25}\mathrm{yr}$ at the 90% confidence level.

We report on an improved measurement of the $2\nu \beta \beta$ half-life of ${}^{136}$Xe performed by EXO-200. The use of a large and homogeneous time-projection chamber allows for the precise estimate of the fiducial mass used for the measurement, resulting in a small systematic uncertainty. We also discuss in detail the data-analysis methods used for double-$\beta$ decay searches with EXO-200, while emphasizing those directly related to the present measurement. The ${}^{136}$Xe $2\nu \beta \beta$ half-life is found to be $T_{1/2}^{2\nu \beta \beta }$ = $2.165\pm 0.016\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)\pm 0.059\left(\mathrm{sys}\right)\times {10}^{21}$ yr. This is the most precisely measured half-life of any $2\nu \beta \beta$ decay to date.

In this Letter, we report a new mass for ${}^{11}\mathrm{Li}$ using the trapping experiment TITAN at TRIUMF’s ISAC facility. This is by far the shortest-lived nuclide, $t_{1/2}=8.8\mathrm{ms}$, for which a mass measurement has ever been performed with a Penning trap. Combined with our mass measurements of ${}^{8,9}\mathrm{Li}$ we derive a new two-neutron separation energy of 369.15(65) keV: a factor of 7 more precise than the best previous value. This new value is a critical ingredient for the determination of the halo charge radius from isotope-shift measurements. We also report results from state-of-the-art atomic-physics calculations using the new mass and extract a new charge radius for ${}^{11}\mathrm{Li}$. This result is a remarkable confluence of nuclear and atomic physics.

A precision mass investigation of the neutron-rich titanium isotopes ${}^{51-55}\mathrm{Ti}$ was performed at TRIUMF’s Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN). The range of the measurements covers the $N=32$ shell closure, and the overall uncertainties of the ${}^{52-55}\mathrm{Ti}$ mass values were significantly reduced. Our results conclusively establish the existence of the weak shell effect at $N=32$, narrowing down the abrupt onset of this shell closure. Our data were compared with state-of-the-art ab initio shell model calculations which, despite very successfully describing where the $N=32$ shell gap is strong, overpredict its strength and extent in titanium and heavier isotones. These measurements also represent the first scientific results of TITAN using the newly commissioned multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer, substantiated by independent measurements from TITAN’s Penning trap mass spectrometer.